Selma Montford's letter about the proposed redevelopment of London Road (Letters, June 24) raises some interesting questions. Firstly, whether we should try to get the best possible Tesco store, rather than focusing on fighting Tesco.

While a large department store might offer one way of regenerating London Road, it may not be the only way. And while the question of the store name is not a planning matter, this does not rule out people taking a principled stand against a firm that many believe has become so large it is distorting the market place to its and not our advantage.

People may also remember the regard that Tesco appeared to have to local planning policies when it stripped out the old windows at its store in Western Road without planning permission.

Can you imagine what fun Tesco's lawyers might have with a "section 106" agreement once they had their planning permission for a new store in London Road? I for one would not be confident of getting the benefits for the wider community that we need.

However, the bigger question that Ms Montford's letter posed is who is encouraging St James Investments to come forward with its proposals before we have agreed a planning brief for the area? Brighton and Hove City Council is currently consulting on the London Road masterplan which aims to set the framework for development here.

Given that the masterplan is only just being developed, it is premature for St James Investments to be progressing its proposals for the area. It should wait and see what comes out of the public consultation and then try to fit in with the local community's aspirations. Otherwise people may well be left with the impression that the council has already agreed with St James Investments as to what it can build.

People will then think that the community consultation is nothing more than a box-ticking exercise with little likelihood of shaping the way that the area develops.

This would be a missed opportunity as without the community buy-in it is unlikely that we will end up with a better London Road which is so important for the future of the city.

  • Chris Todd, Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, Hollingdean Terrace, Brighton