I write in response to the letter from the three councillors representing Carshalton Central (Councillors work tirelessly to improve the high street, March 14).

Like most people I am sure, I am very pleased to hear that we may be getting at least one real shop in the High Street to replace what we have recently lost.

And I welcome the widening of the Outer London Fund target recipients.

Nonetheless that fund is mainly aimed at putting in minor infrastructure and sprucing up the environment, welcome though that is – and yes, Carshalton has seen some benefits there.

It will not in itself prevent the takeover of high streets by estate agents, burger bars and supermarkets.

Indeed, in the same issue of the Sutton Guardian there is a reminder that we are just about to get two more Tesco Express outlets in Sutton (both in former pubs) and we now have another mini-supermarket in Wallington, as well as an application in Stanley Park Road.

The main point I was making in my letter, with which I hope the councillors will agree, is that small independent businesses are part of our local identity and we as a society need to do more to protect them so they can continue to serve our communities.

This is a very difficult nut to crack without the political will at central governnment level.

The recent mushrooming of supermarket outlets all over the borough suggests to me that there is no room for the complacency that seemed to be detectable in their response.

BOB STEEL
Green party