I want to put in a big ‘yes please’ for Lidl. I am sure some people will be negative and state it will take trade away from the town centre, and in particular away from local independent food shops. I think that unlikely, those who use these independent shops will probably still go there and, after all, they already have to compete with Asda, Waitrose and the Co-op.

With the massive growth in housing developments in Wellington we need more infrastructure to cope with the additional people going to be living here.

Lidl states it will be creating jobs for the area – great news, especially at this time when so many people have been made redundant. It seems Lidl is also aware of where it would be building – close to a new housing development – as such it has planned a sympathetic landscaping scheme to not only protect existing hedgerows and trees but to screen the shop from residents.

I love living in Wellington, I love the quirky independent shops we have here, but the town needs to embrace new businesses coming to the area, not put forward obstacles, otherwise people will go elsewhere for more choice and the town businesses will suffer even more than they currently are.

Lidl gives good value for money, which may make the supermarkets we already have become more competitive rather than trade with the inflated prices that seem to have come about since lockdown eased.

I hope Wellington Town Council will recognise the need for this out of town store and accept that for many people it will bring a much needed new facility.

Christine Curtis

Tonedale