I REGULARLY visit the country market on Wareham Quay on a Saturday morning.

There are a variety of stalls including a fresh fruit and vegetable stall, a bakery, a local farmer selling pork sausages, while another specialises in jams, conserves and chutneys. It shows a kaleidoscope of rural life.

It was very disappointing to hear that plans are afoot to have another supermarket out-of-town, despite the fact that there are already two small branches already resident in the centre of the town.

It was noted that there was a separate stall specially arranged to encourage visitors to sign a petition against the plans.

The two branches seem to be proportionate to the needs of the town, so why is there a need for a third one?

A giant Tesco store the size of the one at Fleetsbridge, Poole, was opened out-of-town in Shepton Mallet, where I used to live.

To say that it had a detrimental effect on the town’s high street is an understatement.

It is easily forgotten that commercial practices pushed by supermarkets such as loss leading can be absorbed and forgotten in Bournemouth and Poole, but would be devastating for small retail businesses in Wareham’s High Street.

So I say to local councillors, if you want to keep the town’s feel distinct, please respect any petition that is brought before you.

Matthew Bell, Bettiscombe Close, Canford Heath