Madam, I also went along to the Tesco exhibition and put many questions to Jonathan Simpson, their representative. He painted a picture of a mutually beneficial relationship with the ART group and the town in general, sighting his willingness to explore funding a town centre manager for Ross and even to point people in the direction of our excellent specialist flowers shops rather than their in-store florist if the customer required flowers for a wedding.Alongside this rather unexpected community spirit Mr Simpson also gave me details of Tesco's desire to support local growers and producers. The (flimsy) economic case for the store was, in his view, made by Morrisons' 'over-trading' and data captured from Tesco's Clubcard analysis of Ross residents' shopping habits...ie live in Ross but shop at Tesco in Gloucester or Ledbury. This, along with his assertion of a high quality renumeration package which included 1500 shares per year made it all seem very rosy, and of minimal impact to Ross town centre.

Upon reflection I think Ross has much to be very wary of in relation to Tesco. It's laughable that Mr Simpson believes Tesco can placate Ross traders and shoppers by having a few signs to our excellent range of boutique flowers shops or funding a town centre manager post; these have to be seen as crumbs thrown from a very high corporate table. Mr Simpson also stated that in terms of the branded products that we all know and like (Heinz baked beans, Kellogg's Corn Flakes etc) because both Morrisons' and Tesco's price-match each other these products would always be the same price in whichever store you went to. The only 'new offer' that Tesco's bring to Ross is their own range of Value, Everyday Value and Finest products; do we really need a new superstore in Ross for a selection of own brand products that Ross residents can get delivered via Tesco online?

Thinking about why they have chosen this moment to come to Ross it is worth considering their desire to rejuvenate their profits and market share. Tesco's recently posted a reduction in profits of about 50% and have curtailed their expansion into the USA with losses of more than £1bn. Tesco is a shareholder business; it is legally mandated to make profits for shareholders. Waitrose, for example, is a partnership business, in which staff throughout the organisation benefit directly from its success and therefore have a real stake in developing sustainable links with the town.

Furthermore and echoing views in last week's letters page, Tesco is not a 'destination' store. It will not attract people from outside the town to come here, in the way that Waitrose or M&S draws people into the bustling heart of Monmouth.

I am strongly opposed to Tesco coming, and urge Ross residents to think carefully about whether this is good for the town's long term future. I am 100% in favour of new jobs coming to Ross and a sustainable approach to developing the town centre; regardless of my own shopping preferences and habits, I believe Ross can do better than Tesco.

Daniel Thomas, Ross

Editor's note:?Although this has been said many times before, it is worth repeating here: supermarkets decide where to apply for new stores. Tesco thinks Ross is a suitable place, neither Waitrose nor Marks and Spencers have given any indication that they are interested in locating a store in Ross.

MADAM, What next one wonders. The Registry Office goes. The Police station appears to be on its way and the Library, a jewel in the town's crown, probably next.

Well now we know. ?Tesco is coming to town. How wonderful!?Or is it? Ross is not a big town and even allowing for its catchment area do we really need another supermarket? And Tesco – hardly top of the tree!

We already have one big store, one somewhat smaller and at least two more smallish. With a town population of around 11,000 and its outlying areas this should be enough for anyone.

But it is a done deal. Local politics was ever thus. We can't stop it but we can and should give real support to the quality shops that we already have. And enjoy – or should do. Two butchers with absolute top quality, service – and friendliness. And a bakery – a real one.?He bakes when we are all asleep, and the jam donuts are to die for!

All this is the least that we can do to support the people who give us real quality and service now and later, when the 'fast foodies' move in.

Ian Howard, Llangrove

MADAM, I attended the recent Tesco exhibition. I recently moved to Ross so I cannot really have an opinion yet as to whether Ross needs another supermarket or not. I suspect yes but not where Tesco plan to locate their proposed store.

The Tesco representative told me that they hoped to attract loyal Tesco customers from Ross and surrounding areas that currently travel to Hereford, Ledbury and Gloucester to shop. If this is true then the vehicular traffic in our small town will increase.

As I understand it there will be two access roads to the store. From Overross Street and Station Approach. Inevitably Ledbury Road, Overross Street and five ways junction will see an increase in traffic.

These roads are already busy and anymore traffic will cause significant problems. Additionally, we have the housing development commencing on the A40 Eastern Bypass, which in itself will create more local traffic issues.

In my opinion if Tesco want to move to Ross then they should look for an out of town site that will best suit the town's interests.

Additionally, two Tesco representatives told me that Tesco already own tracts of land on the site they plan to occupy. Fait accompli?

T Jones, Ross

MADAM, We went to the presentation at the Larruperz recently, and were quite impressed.

I found the talk of full time equivalent jobs misleading.

But we feel Ross desperately needs more choice in shopping and petrol, Tesco is not our first choice in supermarket, but neither is the much vaunted (and no hope) Waitrose.

So our support is firmly for Tesco, it will bring people into the town of Ross, and probably into the other shops.

Richard & Pat Pope, Tudorville, Ross

MADAM, It does seem ironic that we should be discussing the possible development of a new supermarket in Ross, which no-one really needs, at the same time as we are facing the closure of the town's library, which we do need and want, and which provides an important and valuable service to the community.

I read that the proposed Tesco will create 250 new full time jobs. I wonder how Tesco can validate this claim. Even if they were to stay open 24 hours a day, working three shifts, that would suggest an average staff of 83 people each shift. That seems like an improbable number of employees. Perhaps Tesco could be more specific about these jobs.

However, even if Tesco were to employ that many people, what would be the net gain of employment for the community? The arrival of a new supermarket does not signify that the people of Ross will immediately start to eat more food, buy more clothes, use more cleaning products or whatever else Tesco might choose to sell in this new store. One is forced to the conclusion that for every new job created by Tesco, at least one more job will be lost in other shops and existing supermarkets in the town whose business will migrate to Tesco.

Tesco is not just a food supermarket - it also sells clothing, hardware, electrical goods, pharmaceuticals, stationery, newspapers and magazines, banking and insurance services and probably lots more besides. How could the existing shops and suppliers in Ross not be affected? It is difficult to imagine that Tesco's gain would not be at the expense of the viability of the town centre shops and the employment of their staff. Many of these shops are local family businesses, contributing to the diversity of this charming market town.

Already we see that in the centre of Ross charity shops are becoming the most common genre, and there are many high street premises showing to-let or for-sale notices. What hope might there be for the remaining food stores, stationers, clothing shops, florists, cafes, ironmongers, delicatessens and bookshops following the arrival of the behemoth that is Tesco?

The development of a new supermarket does not generate real jobs; it merely shifts jobs from many smaller retailers to one giant retailer. How can the centre of the town survive under such a threat, despite Tesco's bold assurances? It is difficult to understand how the Association of Ross Traders have not raised an objection. Are they blind to the threat or have they been seduced by other promises? We are faced with the threat of town centre shops closing if this proposal goes ahead.

In the meantime, our library, which offers an important public service to the town and surrounding area, is under threat of closure. How bizarre. Public apathy may determine the success of Tesco's bid and the closure of our fine library - which has only just been refurbished at considerable expense.

Our priorities are wrong. To save the library and veto the supermarket would be much more sensible.

Michael Edmond, Hoarwithy

MADAM, My first thoughts when I read of the Tesco proposal was, why can't it be a Tesco Superstore near Labels, eg at the old Focus site? This would avoid further traffic congestion in the town. Being so visible and accessible it would also draw people from far and wide and be convenient for many passing motorists, some of whom would go on to visit other shops in the town centre. There could even be an enhanced bus service between town and superstore. In another town I lived in Tesco provided a frequent bus service free of charge between their store and the town centre.

I have nothing against Waitrose but I think a Tesco store is likely to attract more shoppers from Monmouth than a Waitrose would draw from anywhere. At present people from the Ross area who want to shop at Tesco have to go to Gloucester or Hereford to do so, as do Monmouth people.

I just do not buy into the myth that supermarkets kill towns. They attract potential customers. It is the towns that don't have them that struggle most. In any case, in this motorcar age supermarket shopping is here to stay and even those who decry it do most of their grocery shopping in them. It is disingenuous to claim that supermarkets are damaging and then argue in favour of a different firm.

When Tesco opens its doors in Ross you will see that a majority of your readers will welcome it by shopping there.

Neville Fowler, Weston under Penyard

Madam, I note from your article that Tesco are willing to provide Ross with the equivalent of 250 full time jobs, a four pump petrol station and a 260-space car park. These are necessary requirements to opening any new major store in a town or city.

The only extra "every little helps" that seems to be on offer are a new cycleway and pathways to the town centre.

Major financial contributions have never been forthcoming from previous and present prosperous supermarkets in the locality. Perhaps this time, if Ross is to welcome a new superstore to the area, we could insist on a substantial contribution to our community from their huge profits.

On the same page the Ross Gazette has highlighted the threat of the closure of our library. Perhaps Tesco could make a substantial commitment to our community by giving financial support towards keeping our library open for the foreseeable future.

Liz Boynton, Ross

Madam, Funny, isn't it, how a shiny new Tesco supermarket blinds us all to the 'bomb site' in Brookend Street? The eyesore that used to be a garage and was supposed to be an Aldi store for the last 10 years or so.

Tesco, apparently thinking ahead, bought some of the neighbouring properties which form part of their plans years ago. Various planners and councillors would have been 'in the know', of course. So, all that was required then was to take control of the local Trade Association (ART), through secret meetings and council interference, and pretend that ART is the voice of the 10,000 residents who live here – which of course they are not. Tesco even think they might be joining ART (whose aim is "to promote independent retailers") and they think that 305 people who they claim supported them at their recent exhibition is a "strong majority of local residents". What planet are they on?

For those who don't particularly care about the forthcoming destruction of proper, not 'equivalent' full time jobs in the town's independent stores, they may be surprised to learn that Tesco are not quite as good value as they make out.

If it all goes ahead, as it almost certainly will, I am sure that Morrisons will be delighted to have an additional 260 car park spaces next door for its existing customers because Tesco customers certainly won't be parking there to come into the town centre. You don't need a degree to work that out.

Andrew Meek, Ross