WILL Doric share the evidence to support their claim that: ‘Seventy per cent of people in the area have to travel elsewhere to get their shopping done because what is on offer is not good enough’ (Madrid, Fulham, ...Botley, November 12)?
According to the results of their own consultation, which readers can view on their website, 70 per cent of people thought shopping in Botley could be improved and 61 per cent of people do not do their main shop in Botley. Neither of those statistics support Doric’s claim, particularly since they fail to tell us where more than a quarter of respondents do in fact do their main shop, or why. Perhaps the answer does not suit their strategy?
I, like many local residents, told Doric that shopping in Botley could be improved and that I do not do my main shop there – but I did not tell them and nor does it follow, that because the shops need improving I am forced to travel elsewhere to get my shopping done. Neither does the fact that I do not do my main shop in Botley mean that I want to.
My main shop is done online, because it is easy, convenient and fits well with family commitments and that will not change with the building of an enormous supermarket. I do, however, rely on the existing shops at Botley, including the independent butcher, the newsagents, the post office and the medium-sized Co-op, to regularly top up that main shop.
I have no intention of switching my online shop to battle my way through the additional traffic which will inevitably be generated by this development, to drag my toddler through an underground car park and round an enormous superstore on a Saturday morning, either to do my main shop or just to buy a few essentials. Rather I will shop more frequently online and walk to the local shops in Cumnor to top up my shopping.
Botley has, needs and wants to keep small, local shops.
Even if it is true that 70 per cent of people do not do their main shop in Botley, it does not follow that 70 per cent want to. Doric are twisting the numbers to support the development they, not local residents, want, while paying lip service to consultation.
CLARE WOODCOCK
Cumnor Hill
Oxford
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