Sir, – We refer to the comments from Mrs C M Bisby of (D&S letters, April 10) regarding the Co-op in Stokesley.

We could not agree more with her observations. Put bluntly, it is expensive, the range of products is nowhere near as extensive as in other supermarkets and it has a monopoly on the local area.

Some of the Co-op’s own brand products are very good, provided that you can afford them. What about those people who can’t?

Largely, Stokesley is an affluent area, but there are still those on fixed incomes, such as pensioners and those in receipt of state benefits. For these people, especially, the arrival of one of the big four supermarket chains would save them money and, just maybe, make the Co-op realise that it cannot charge what it wants and take the custom of the people of Stokesley for granted.

Also, where are the budget shops, such as Netto or Aldi, even Heron? We don’t see much happening to the former Victoria Wine store. Is this even a possibility?

Some people are snobbish about having such stores in their locality, but remember Axe on Stokesley High Street from the 1970s? It provided a real alternative to the then Hinton’s store. Times were hard then, but arguably, they are worse now.

Living in one of the surrounding villages makes the situation even worse. Those who rely on the buses and choose to use a supermarket in, say, Middlesbrough or Guisborough will often have to use two buses there and two back, carrying all their groceries. Shopping online can solve this problem, but many people will not have access to this facility and actually may prefer to see what they buy before doing so.

Whitby is engaged in the same debate at present and, from what we have read, local people are crying out for an alternative to the Co-op and it appears that they will get it. Why not Stokesley? I can think of places smaller than Stokesley that have not just one of the big four, but three.

Come on Asda, Morrison’s, Sainsbury and Tesco. There is money to be made and there are many customers ready to come through your doors. Provide the people of Stokesley and the surrounding villages a real choice and give the Co-op a wake-up call.

The word “super” is supposed to mean better than just good.

In this case, we suggest a redefinition of the word that could not possibly be submitted to a newspaper.

R and J TURNBULL Great Broughton, Stokesley.