We have the toughest planning regime in the European Union and it has been toughened twice since the introduction of PPG 6. Equally untrue is the criticism that supermarkets have created food deserts. In most of these areas the problems of exclusion pre-date the growth in the expansion of supermarkets in the 80s and early 90s. Many estates were built without access to services into consideration, whether that be a doctor's surgery, dentist or retailer. Retailers are not the cause of social exclusion, but can be part of the solution.
Supermarkets do, where they can, work with small local suppliers.
In many parts of the country, supermarkets provide shelf space for products supplied by regional food groups. Finally, consumers can shop locally - but they also have the option of shopping by car, especially when doing the weekly shop. The growth of large supermarkets is not going unchecked. They are demanding a wider range of products and services than ever before. William Moyes Dear William, I am not arguing that we should try to reverse the growth of supermarkets.