Letter: Our quaint little village in the New Forest doesn’t need a supermarket

I urge NFDC to thoroughly review the submission regarding the proposed Tesco development at Milford.

Milford is a quaint village, home to two mini supermarkets – Co-Op and One Stop – a greengrocer, a bakery, a butcher, a pharmacy, and various independent shops (did these appear in the submission?) It does not require an additional supermarket. I trust NFDC and its team have examined statistics related to footfall and revenue. I have never experienced queues longer than four people, indicating that the current shops are not overwhelmed, and additional capacity is unwarranted.

The village shops rely on increased summer earnings to buffer quieter periods throughout the year and cover their overheads. According to the Census, Milford has a population of approximately 4,700, which will swell during peak seasons. The visitors, primarily arriving by car due to Milford’s location, can easily travel to New Milton or Lymington for their needs if not met within the village. It is noteworthy that 600 local residents recently attended a meeting to voice their objections.

New Milton already hosts multiple supermarket representations, including Tesco Caird Avenue, two Tesco Express stores, Lidl, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, and Morrisons, while Lymington has a Waitrose – all less than three miles from the centre of Milford.

Allowing Tesco into Milford would undoubtedly deliver a catastrophic blow to local businesses. These businesses contribute to the council through business rates, and their closure would result in empty shops and unemployment.

NFDC must respect the wishes of the village, decline the application and preserve the unique character of this special town for the future.

Jane Wilson

New Milton