We love Wadebridge

The Lovewadebridge website was set up last week to enable the people of Wadebridge to air their feelings regarding the proposed new supermarket(s) on the eastern outskirts of the town.

This initiative has been prompted by the proposal that Cornwall Council should sell its office at Higher Trenant to Sainsbury’s. Sainsbury’s would demolish the building and create a superstore.

The demolition of this valuable building (built at great expense less than 20 years ago!) would be prompted by short-term financial considerations on the part of the council, and Sainsbury’s wish to access the substantial shopping spend in the town.

It would thus be a double slap in the face for Wadebridge.  The promise of extra jobs is bogus as supermarkets destroy as many jobs as they create.

Independent

Wadebridge has until now cleverly and quietly combined the best of the past while embracing what the present has to offer.

The key survival from the past, that keeps its modern heart beating, is the network of independent traders offering those everyday commodities that bring local people into its streets for supplies and sociability. 

That heart has been carved out of most towns of similar size in Cornwall by their circling superstores. In Wadebridge it is still beating strongly.  If we allowed our independent and local traders to be squeezed out, which would be the inevitable result of supermarket expansion, the future of Wadebridge would become drab and bland.

If you are interested in keeping things local, which if you are looking at the CSA website you undoubtedly are, then take a look at the website – lovewadebridge.com - have your say, and sign the petition.