It was a price too high

Common sense wins through. Well, not really. The ASDA deal, which is now off, is more to do with the current recession which, unlike what the experts tell us, is going to get much deeper and last much longer. It did not take a genius to work out that what the council was exacting from ASDA was a price too high, more so when ASDA have several other sites ongoing across the country which will be much cheaper to complete and have a quicker return than building a complex in Exmouth.With the current economic downturn lasting well into 2012 (my expert opinion), the last thing local businesses in Exmouth and the surrounding areas want now is a supermarket of this size coming to Exmouth, making things even worse for them when staying open is going to be hard enough.Hugo Swire, Sara Randall Johnson and all the other so-called experts who, by the way, do not live in Exmouth but, of course, know best for the people of Exmouth, can now all go away and come up with something for Exmouth which is more in keeping with the local area and not just another brainless scheme full of bricks and mortar all in the name of shopping and profit. I truly hope the shopkeepers of Exmouth and the surrounding area will be dancing with joy at this wonderful news, all in the name of 'common sense'.The first attempt by ASDA failed and the council were quoted at the time, having received over 10,000 objections to a store on this site, as being "The end of that". Yet, within six months, East Devon District Council were in secret talks with a supermarket chain, being ASDA, to yet again build a store in the same place but with the add on of a new library, sports centre and swimming pool, as if that was going to subdue those 10,000 objectors.On the second attempt, the slogan was "ASDA, yes, but not on the EXE" which said everything and, in my opinion, will always remain the valid argument. I, for one, was prepared to take direct action against this recent plan and will remain ready to do so in the future should those experts think we would be so gullible as to accept such a building so close to an area of outstanding beauty.The message to ASDA, or anyone else thinking of building in this area, is "Forget it". The issues remain the same, the objections remain the same and, no, you will not succeed in spoiling an area of natural beauty, but if you, 'the experts', want to come up with an idea more in keeping with this area, then I am sure the residents of Exmouth will give it consideration, but please do not try and do it behind our backs, thinking that you know best.As for Sara Randall Johnson, the leader of EDDC, who has shown she has no real interest in Exmouth and has shown this by saying one thing and doing another behind the backs of the residents of Exmouth, resign and go now.Robert M Blyth,Exmouth.