Dear Secretary of State (cc Minister for Communities and Local Government),

I am writing to you on behalf of local residents who are concerned, as am I, by the unchecked growth of the supermarkets and the devastating impact it has on local businesses, local communities and consumer choice.

The Competition Commission concluded that the dominance of any one retailer in a local area has a negative impact on consumer choice. it recommended a competition test to stop supermarkets opening a new store in places where they already control the local market.

Tougher measures are also needed to ensure genuine consumer choice. In the constituency that I represent, Brighton Pavilion, planning permission has been granted for a Tesco store on Lewes Road. This road and surrounding area already has a vast number of supermarkets and mini-markets, and simply does not need another.

I am disappointed that the Government is now delaying implementation of the competition test, and I very much hope you will do all that you can to stop the building of yet another supermarket chain on Lewes Road. Tesco is already dominating towns, cities and communities up and down the country, and has aggressive expansion plans for the next two years.

As the Secretary of State and Minister responsible for planning policy you must introduce the competition test. Otherwise Tesco's takeover of our communities will continue.

Please ensure that:

1. the threshold of the test be set much lower than the proposed 60%;
2. the test includes all formats of any one retailer - from convenience size to superstore;
3. the Government introduces positive policies to encourage small businesses and flourishing local economies such as the diversity test I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Yours sincerely,

 Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

Read the reply from the Department for Communities and Local Government