Some people are getting a bit overheated about St James’s Street, Brighton, claiming supermarkets are driving out the smaller quirky businesses and it is turning into a street of “clone” emporia (The Argus, February 15).

The facts are that of the four existing or proposed supermarkets, one, the largest, presently owned by Morrisons, has always been there. Another, the Co-op, has also always been a supermarket. Years ago, in fact, the Co-op occupied both its present site and the vacant Tin Drum site next door, so if it does expand into the old Tin Drum, as proposed, it will merely be reverting to its former size.

What was Taj and may now become a Sainsbury’s, at the bottom of the street, used to be a Job Centre, so no independent retailer has been lost there. Tesco Express replaced a chain store selling discount clothing, so nothing very special was lost there.

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that this is a densely populated residential area, with a lot of elderly and disabled people who require “proper” shops rather than upmarket boutiques and trendy coffee purveyors.

As a local resident, I’m glad to have increased choice in buying essential supplies. What I lament are all the greengrocers, butchers, and secondhand furniture and book dealers who used to be here but have been driven out by high rents and rates.

Graham Chainey
Marine Parade, Brighton