Pub will be a great loss

I refer to the Mariner, in Mortimer Road. This pub is not only a cosy little local for much of the surrounding area, but also a meeting place for many of the older residents, who are not able to go further afield, and will probably be the end of the little social life they have.

I understand that objections were put forward and petitions signed both on paper and on the internet, but alas all were ignored by the brewery and our local Labour council.

The local councillors, including Gladys Hobson, don’t seem to reflect what the public really want in our area because the opinion of everyone I have spoken to is that the last thing they want is another supermarket, especially at the expense of our local pub. We already have a Sainsbury’s on Stanhope Road and a mini-market in Mortimer Road itself.

To add to this we have now discovered that when the Co-op does open it intends to sell alcohol from 6am to 11pm. Is this really what we want when there is a primary school directly opposite and Mortimer Comp just up the road?

I realise this letter is probably too little too late but one thing is for sure, I and many others will be having second thoughts when next voting in the local elections as, once again, our local elected councillors seem to have given no support at all.

A W Elstob