Yes, it really is a shame. The trouble is that, when it comes to retail in the new development, the cart was put firmly before the horse. You say that you ‘don’t want’ the High Street stalwarts in Brentford, preferring a collection of independents. I do understand where you’re coming from, but it doesn’t really work like that. There’s a symbiotic relationship between anchor stores and independents. We require shops to sell us what we need. If we can’t buy what we need, we vote with our feet. The most important thing in Brentford is good grocery shopping: Morrisons can scarcely provide this. In an area with an increasingly mixed demographic, some people need a shop such as Lidl or Aldi. Some acutely feel the lack of a place to buy better quality ingredients - meat, fish, vegetables, cheese and charcuterie from a delicatessen and so forth. They can’t get what they need in one trip to the shops, so they’ll go elsewhere.A branch of Boots also wouldn’t hurt. Since the loss of BA Williams, we have the Morrisons pharmacy - a bit chaotic, with some supply chain issues - and Brent, with their eyewatering, shameless overcharging. I simply won’t go in there. What’s the alternative? Shop outside Brentford. (We don’t have a car, so all our excursions are on public transport. It’s often bloody inconvenient. You have to plan things well.)If you can get your immediate ’needs’ addressed, that provides an opportunity to spend recreationally. I too really like Mother Rugger. Xaviera is delightful and her shop is absolutely terrific. She has really gorgeous greetings cards which I have bought - but I have bought them when I need to get milk from Morrisons or go to the post office. I doubt I’d make the trip otherwise. Offering retail units to small businesses without providing them with support from anchor stores is a hiding to nothing. That relationship is vital to success. Thinking about it, Barnes is a brilliant example - they have a food-only M&S and a Sainsbury’s but a fantastic collection of independents and smaller chains, great coffee, plus wine, clothes and some luxury items. It’s a pleasure to shop there - and local residents absolutely put their money where their mouths are. The point is that the little shops need the anchor stores to survive. Hewson Books was let down. I cross my fingers for Mother Rugger. (Truthfully, I wondered if Sam’s was going to reopen.) A Marks & Sparks or Waitrose would bring people into the area. They’d do their shopping, stop for coffee, buy a card or a scented candle. It’s win-win and - right now - it feel very much like lose-lose.
Tracie Dudley Craig ● 53d