The post you are reporting:
Been hearing about the new Morrisons in Dover where the old B&Q was. I don't know if this is confirmed, it's all a bit mysterious at the moment, but this seems to be the favourite rumour. If this is indeed Morrisons, well let's face it - it is just another supermarket in a small town that already has loads of supermarkets. Tesco, Aldi, Somerfield, Netto, Farmfoods, Iceland, and those are just the ones I can think of at the moment. And two of them are on the same site as the new Morrisons (if it is Morrisons). Oh, and let's not forget our big promise of Asda coming soon. Can't wait.
When we talk about the decline of the high street it really does not surprise me when the only type of business we can attract are the uninspiring, safe-bet, stack-'em-high grub shops which seem to saturate small towns like Dover. Do we really need yet another supermarket? Do we want it? Is this a response to public demand or just another big business planting roots in a new spot to satisfy shareholders?
Now don't get me wrong, new shops equals new jobs (which is always very welcome) but how does planting another new supermarket help the prospects of the existing supermarkets and the folk employed in them? Considering Dover is supposed to have such a puny catchment area, why do these big food stores flood into such risky business territory? Why not HMV or any of the other big names we are sorely lacking in town? And how much waste, unsold stock do these supermarkets throw away every week? After all, the population of supermarkets is increasing at a far greater rate than the population of residents and we can't all be so hungry that we buy ALL their goods? Can we?
I'm not a big clothes shopper but I have heard time and time again that Dover is rubbish for buying clothes. I am a media nut, yet the only shop I can now buy DVDs is WHSmiths and their selection has dwindled to a small shelf at the back of the store so that's me off to Folkestone or Canterbury every week when I fancy an outing (although I admit most of mine is bought from Amazon). Dover is over-stuffed with "necessity" shopping and lacking in "leisure" shopping. I know high streets generally are struggling these days (I firmly believe that they have had their day) but when you see the type of shops that move in to any available space in town you can really see why.
I've got nothing against Morrisons by the way, I'm sure their stuff is as good as anyone's.