New jobs would be at expense of others (From Hampshire Chronicle)

New jobs would be at expense of others

9:43am Thursday 11th June 2009

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SIR — It is time that the falsehood uttered by Sainsbury’s (and similar supermarket developers) regarding the alleged employment benefit from their proposals is subjected to careful examination and, I would suggest, debunked.

On the assumption that the superstore at Bishop’s Waltham were built, it might offer 300 jobs. But at what cost? There is a limited amount of food and drink that we consume, and opening a large new store is unlikely to materially change that.

It follows, therefore, that the jobs that are created are at the expense of employment elsewhere, and primarily at the cost of small businesses. As has been pointed out, Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets are in business a few miles from Bishop’s Waltham. I trust, therefore, that the planners will not be swayed by the untruth that, in some way, employment prospects in Bishop’s Waltham would be improved by virtue of erecting this superstore.

The situation regarding Waitrose and Aldi in Winchester is different. Undoubtedly they will employ a large number of people.

I suspect, however, that the bulk of their business will be obtained from similar organisations as, regrettably, because of the change in the shopping habits of so many people, there are very few small stores left in Winchester and surrounding areas.

Michael Radford, Church Street, Micheldever.

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