Anne Main has today expressed concern at a report from the Competition Commission into supermarkets and grocery provision in the UK.

Anne Main, MP for St Albans, has today expressed concern at a report from the Competition Commission into supermarkets and grocery provision in the UK.

The recommendations, including the possible removal of the retail needs test often used by councils to oppose inappropriate development, are aimed to increase supermarket competition in local markets. If the recommendations become law they could tie the hands of local councils in opposing new developments.

Anne said:

"I have recently met with Tesco and Asda who are keen not to be restrained by a local needs test. However, the flip-side of that is that in areas like St Albans, local councils would be unable to resist applications for what are considered to be overly large supermarkets. Indeed, one of the current stumbling blocks for Tesco on London Road is that the store they propose is far larger than the identified retail need.

This report draws attention to the detrimental impact of land banking, which leads to areas becoming derelict and unfriendly for other local shops. The London Road site has been an eyesore while Tesco seeks to put together a package that serves its needs, but is detrimental to the needs of St Albans. Tesco can't keep making SADC wait for a decision, it should sell the site now if it cannot put together an application which is acceptable.

I know from my meetings with supermarkets that the Government is in favour of removing the needs test and freeing up the market for even more supermarket dominance in our towns. I am not against competition, but I do believe local communities are best placed to decide how their town centres should be developed. For me the needs of St Albans come before the needs of the supermarket giants. ""