Bigger Morrisons- Is this really what Bognor needs?

Plans for the current Morrisons in Bognor town centre to be doubled in size, have been backed by the regeneration task force co-ordinator Richard Mc Mann.

McMann was quoted in the Observer as having said that " Morrisons plan to replace it's Bedford Street outlet, met many of the task force's aspirations to improve Bognor."

He, like many others, feel that a bigger and better stocked store will draw people to the town centre and potentially increase sales for other retail outlets. Although to some extent  this may be true there are statistics which show that large superstores, along with online shopping are potentially one of the causes for a so called 'flat market' in retail shopping.

On radio 4 this afternoon, Matthew Hopkins from a data company analysed some figures, quoting that " in the last decade there has been an increase of 35-40% in large superstores opening up and that the number of empty shops on the high street has trebles since 2008." The report goes on to say that supermarkets have increased their non-food retail space by 40% and have realised that when you get people through the door you provide them with a full service.

With these statistics and the closure of various town centre shops both here in Bognor and all round the country, it it hard to believe that a large superstore that stocks everything under one roof, in the same vicinity as local outlets, is going to do anything other than reduce the sales of the smaller shops.

Why go to Boots or Superdrug if Morrisons sells all the toiletries you need? Why waste time in the local card and stationary shops when you can pick something up with your sausages?

Convenience drives us all but it's a real concern that supporting huge superstores in increasing their market share, is something which the regeneration task force sees as improving our town.