I REFER to your article of November 21 (Tesco store plans test out residents' town blueprint) reporting on the proposed out-of-town supermarket development by Tesco in Thame, as I feel that facts given in your feature are highly misleading.

You stated that the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy had identified a need for 4,000sq m of extra retail space in Thame over the next 12 years.

However, this represents the total identified need but is broken down in the Core Strategy, and in Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan, into just 600sq m of convenience retail (food and drink) and 3,400sq m of comparison retail (everything else).

This was deemed sufficient, even in the context of identified housing growth and increasing population, to meet Thame’s needs up to the year 2027.

The Neighbourhood Plan also clearly requires that new retail development should be in the town centre, and identifies sites where this might be accommodated.

You then mention that the Tesco proposal is for 4,765m2 of "shop floorspace", whereas that figure refers to the total internal area (i.e including warehousing and offices).

Their planning application actually details a net sales area of 2,522sq m, of which 70 per cent would be for convenience goods and 30 per cent for comparison goods.

A quick calculation therefore demonstrates that Tesco are proposing approximately 1,800sq m of convenience retail which is three times greater than the projected need, 10-12 years earlier, and in the wrong place.

Thame remains a traditional market town with a thriving town centre, a strong independent retail sector, and an 800-year-old Tuesday market, so it is not difficult to understand the fear that the proposed out-of-town supermarket development would have a severe impact on the local economy and on the very character of Thame.

As a town councillor I have spoken out strongly against this planning application, which I find both inappropriate and disproportionate.

MIKE DYER

Swan Walk,

Thame