Hugh Sandeman
Conservative Councillor for Bell Hill ward, Petersfield

The news that Marks and Spencer is set to move a food-hall supermarket into Petersfield's High Street, replacing the current Somerfield is an interesting evolution to the retail scene in Petersfield. As Waitrose did on its opening and to a lesser extent Tesco, big supermarkets bring with them a lot of change to consumer trends, wage levels, choice and competition in the town.

There are plenty of likely 'losers' from this deal. Waitrose will lose it's mantle as the only quality supermarket of the town. Opening before Christmas will probably see the M&S shelves stripped bare by the people that used to lay siege to Waitrose when I worked there, buying up everything they thought they may need to cover the day or two the shop was closed for over Christmas (They shop like a nuclear holocaust is due on the 25th of December).

The people who rely on Somerfield for their groceries, an affordable supermarket in the centre of town are going to lose out, Tesco will probably gain a few Somerfield shoppers while those that buy their impulse shopping and lunches at Somerfield are likely to have to spend a bit more at the new M&S or go elsewhere.

The specialist food shops and delicatessans could also take a knock from the percieved high quality food at M&S, hopefully the small, local, niche traders will ride the storm once people realise much of M&S food tends to be quality pre-packed ready meals, I don't recall them having many service counters in the ones I have visited either.

All the above may seem like moans, but the arrival of M&S will have clear repercussions both good and bad. It will be another economic trigger for other retailers who look at the location and success of leading brands to see if an area is ripe to move into themselves. It makes Petersfield more (even more) of a shopping destination than places like Haslemere and Midhurst.

The Market has decided that M&S will move to Petersfield, it is up to M&S how it enters our local market and if it will cater for the people of the town or those who choose to visit from farther a field, it is clearly a key day for retailing in the town I look forward to seeing what changes occur as a result of this news, the promise of more jobs is the first.