ON the editorial comment about the probable appeal against the Aldi planning decision.

Posted by Mister Champagne: Stroud has several supermarkets already, if people don’t want to shop at them then they have the freedom to go elsewhere.

Now a new one comes along, with a slightly different offering, and aimed at a slightly different demographic. So why are a small group of locals up in arms about it?

They can still shop at the most expensive places if they wish - maybe Waitrose, organic food shops, or the farmers’ market. People of that income bracket or mindset are unlikely to suddenly switch, so it won’t affect the pricier outlets.

But a lower priced place helps those on very limited incomes, it gives them more choice.

I believe in allowing people the right to a choice as to which businesses to spend their own money with.

People can vote with their feet, and Aldi won’t stay here long if it turns out that no-one shops there. Their shops in Gloucester and Cirencester seem to be thriving though.

Posted by mmaxab: All this nonsense about another supermarket taking trade away from the centre is just that - nonsense; it will take trade away from Sainsbury’s and Tesco and that is no bad thing.

But it wont affect shops in Stroud apart from maybe the budget ones and that doesn’t matter as they are chains anyway. I’d rather have an Aldi than yet another coffee shop.

On the survey which found that satisfaction with Stroud District Council is running at an all-time high.

Posted by robertpaterson3: I’ve always wondered about this nonsense. We are only ever told about the ‘satisfaction’ never about the council’s failings. First of all who are the people who conducted this ‘survey’? Why are we never told who they are?

Posted by MoreSilentMajority: I have not received or been consulted on any ‘survey’. Most people would if unsolicited, just throw it in the bin - just another piece of propaganda. Only the few who bother to fill it out, probably less than 10 per cent, will be counted. They also probably make sure they only ask those in places where they know the residents are not dealing with the council, ie. the posher private home areas.

Most of the older tenants in sheltered housing are NOT happy.