We've been through this before.

When 'choice' is limited to what one store decides to sell, it is not the same as choice provided by a range of outlets selling a range of different products – say, for instance, bread.

Having, say, three different sizes of Tesco in a town is not greater choice than when people had a Tesco and a range of small, independent shops (which is very similar to the situation experienced in my local area over a period of 30-40 years).

The biggest issue in high street retailing is the cost of rent and business rates - some rationalisation is required. The idea that firms pay a quarter in advance on leases that have clauses saving reviews will be upwards only is plain inequitable.

The cost of business rates is also out of kilter with the services the local councils are delivering for the cost.

Until a reality hits landlords you will see more casualties - Dreams is hotly tipped to be next?

If Wal Mart were only selling one type of bread I would agree but that is not the case in your local Asda you will be able to get 50 different types of bread from basic to exotic. In Bradford there is 4 Morrisons, 1 Tesco, 1 Asda, 1 Sainsbury, Lidl, Aldi how much more choice do you want? No one forces anyone to shop at these stores, Bradford has a fruit/meat and fish market it also has numerous independent butchers, bakers and fruit and veg retailers many of which you have to drive past to get to the hyper-markets.

One thing is for sure you will get a greater choice of products across all theses three areas in your supermarket than you will in your independent.

You're correct about the issue - what is needed is rent regulation.

If there is nothing other than supermarkets in a town (see 'Tesco Town, 'Tescopoly' and 'trolley town') then there is only the 'choice' that such a company allows. Residents have sod all realistic choice where to shop.

Bradford is a sizeable city. Many smaller places in he UK do not have such choices.

I recently interviewed my local butcher (you can find the result at the address listed below). He's been on the street for 50 years - the last survivor. No raving lefty - and guess what? It was the big expansion of supermarkets that killed off the independents. My street went from eight butchers, three fishmongers, three proper bakers etc to one butcher and one chain baker - and a shed load of dosing Tescos and Sainsbury's, neither of which provide even half-way decent real butchers and fishmongers, with the skills and knowledge those actually involve.

Incidentally, buying strawberries and asparagus in December is utterly bonkers, unsustainable and downright stupid. And people who think it's some sort of success are also stupid.

Councils do not set business rates nor do they get the money from them, that is down to HM Gov, they also set what services businesses get for their rates.

Oh and who has just put up business rates, again?

Bradford, Leeds and a few other places have done well to keep their really very good markets, I would bet that the same products are available in all those big supermarkets and a limited selection in the others, having 7 different places to buy your Warburtons bread isn't really a choice.

It, along with a few notable towns and cities had a decent starting point, Leeds and Bradford both have fantastic markets, what many towns had was "The Master Butcher" the fruit and veg shop where the produce was delivered once a week on a Saturday morning and the chain fresh fish shop, supermarkets were wonderful places compared to them.

Thats not to say that independents can't beat supermarkets on quality and availability if they are allowed to what happens is supermarkets drop prices to get rid of the competition. Spending time in Inverness shows just how much of a grip Tesco have, the have three massive supermarkets, own three more sites and spend millions blocking others moving into the area. That isn't competition, that isn't choice.

But having 50 types of bread in one place is choice!!

Absolutely agree re strawberries in December. Like HMV if you do not adapt to changes market conditions you will die. You cannot blame the supermarkets if the independents cannot supply a compelling model which is sufficiently tempting to attract enough customers to keep them going. Perhaps if the butcher, baker and fruit and veg all got together so you could get all your fresh stuff in one place and the rest at the supermarket? They would need to ensure there was somewhere to park that didn't cost £5/6 every time etc.