I empathise with Alfie Mitchell’s support for maintaining the Lewes Road community garden and for considering the maintenance and development of the land to the benefit of the community (Letters, December 11).

However, the answer to his question “Do we really need another supermarket?” is of course, “no”. Tesco needs another supermarket and the owners of the land are naturally seeing pound signs light up in their heads in response.

It’s supply and demand, because, unfortunately, many shoppers continue to spend in Tesco with little awareness of the bigger picture. I withdrew my custom years ago when my experience of poor customer service only added to the awareness of how Tesco showed little respect for the community and authorities.

Supermarkets really are here to stay, but if customers took their money to more socially aware stores, such as the Co-operative or Waitrose, we may see the scenery start to improve without the need for protest.

Darryl Marks, Eaton Road, Hove