THE recent announcement of the takeover of Asda by American shopping giant Walmart and their plans to create hypermarkets that will be four times bigger than current supermarkets, failed to tell how Walmart are perceived in the US.

While they certainly attract shoppers, these are captive shoppers who have no real choice, because, for every new Walmart that opens, it closes down dozens of local shops by (a) undercutting them on price and (b) taking their staff. The high streets and local communities have been decimated by these out of town shopping malls.

Very few new jobs are created as staff simply transfer from one job to another, and new business is not created, it's simply spread thinner. The same with new hotels. Why should more people visit Bolton just because a new hotel is built? It's not as though there is a shortage of hotel beds. Each hotel will sell fewer rooms every week.

A level of competition keeps us on our toes and encourages us to offer top class service to customers to win business. But, for many businesses in our town centre and in our local towns - Horwich, Blackrod, Westhoughton etc - it's not just a case that increased competition will reduce their profits, it's more the difference between survival and closing down.

Nevertheless, all the increased competition means less profits for companies, and there's nothing wrong with making a profit.

Profitable companies like St Andrews Travel pay better wages, employ more people, invest in their companies and shops and keep up appearances. But, more importantly, profitable local companies like ourselves invest in the local communities by supporting and sponsoring charities, schools, sports, concerts etc.

A swift look at Middlebrook and the names above the shops and you could well be in America, and how many of these companies invest in the community spirit of Bolton, like we do?

Those members of the planning committee who chose to override and ignore the recommendations of the paid professional planning officers will have a lot to answer for in the future when the long term effect of these numerous retail parks come home to roost. When these councillors are long gone, they will be remembered by ghost towns, deserted town hall squares and a total lack of community spirit.

I hope they have the same sleepless nights that I know many small businessmen and women who talk to me are experiencing as their very livelihoods are put in jeopardy by ill thought out decisions.

Andrew Dickson

Managing Director

St Andrews Travel

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.