Are the carrier bags needed?

Their food is excellent, I do not have a problem with that. But I am annoyed with their practise of insisting you have a plastic carrier bag, whether it be a sausage roll or a loaf of bread. Today I was given a plastic carrier bag for a meat pie even though I did not ask for one. I gave it back and explained my reasons.

The six people behind me must not have cared either because they too came out with plastic carrier bags. I cannot see a good reason for having plastic carrier bags only that they advertise the company and never mind the children of tomorrow, because when he/she is dead the landfill sites will not be his/her problem.

Local supermarkets do not fare much better on this matter either, quite a contrast from Germany where I have just visited. At the supermarket you take your trolley to your car and then empty your goods into two laundry type baskets that are in the boot of your car (bags are available if required) when you get home, you carry your laundry type baskets to your house, and so simple!

George Whitlow

Solent Drive, Bolton

FOOTNOTE: Patrick Kavanagh, marketing manager at Greenhalgh's said: "Greenhalgh's prides itself on providing both a quality range of products together with exceptional service to all our customers. We promote a tradition of Craft Baking which we have personified since 1957.

"With regard to carrier bags, our policy is that where a customer has purchased either a number of products which would otherwise be difficult to carry or has purchased products of a delicate or fragile nature or has bought products which are freshly baked and therefore hot, we always offer that customer the option of having a carrier bag.

"It is clear that the primary purpose is to assist our customers,. We are also keenly aware of our environmental responsibilities and an examination of our carrier bags will indicate warnings about safety, the need to 'Keep Britain Tidy' and information about recycling. We would encourage all customers to recycle such items."