HOPcat,

Re the flats, no it is probably not up the standard of the other new development.

As for Sainsburys being the right solution:
* Yes, Peter James is wonderful. I, along with everyone I have spoken to about this, would love to have the shop there that you describe. If you know someone who is prepared to open up such a shop, please speak up and I think you will find huge support for this.
* Peter James, wonderful though it is, is now only open 3 days a week. The local demographic has lots of young professional people who would dearly love to get a few groceries on their way home from work. Even if such a shop were to open, it would not replace a Sainsburys local and vice versa - the crossover in product line is practically zero.
* There is an argument, which was put forward at the meeting, that a Sainsburys would increase footfall to the other businesses and make the whole parade more attractive to business generally. I happen to subscribe to this point of view, even though I am not a fan of Sainsburys. I know people who agree and who don't too and the truth is we will not really know for sure until it happens. In the meantime, we have empty premises with no other realistic prospect of filling them. If, like me, you would rather not shop at Sainsburys, then I do not see why you would have a preference for a row of empty shops.

In summary, I would agree that a Sainsburys Local is probably not the right solution. However, in the absence of any other proposals, it may very well be the best solution we can expect right now.