How accurate is the ‘Waitrose test’?

The Waitrose test

Sir: Like Rod Liddle, I live in the north-east of England — a little further north and nearer to Sunderland (‘Keeping up appearances’, 27 November). The area is not particularly affluent and we do not have a Waitrose.

For the first 30 years of my life there was an enormous slag heap in the area: a legacy of our coal-mining era and an eyesore. There was a deposit of open-cast, accessible coal next to the heap, and an opportunity arose to dig out the coal, deposit the slag heap into the space left, and then landscape the area into a beautiful country park with ponds and trees, suitable for walking, cycling and other pursuits. There was opposition to this at the time by locals — who eventually benefited the most — on the grounds of noise, dust and traffic. This was proven to be unfounded, as all aspects of disruption were well managed.

Thirty years later there are objections to a new housing estate being built adjacent to the park, on private land. The locals want to save the green belt, and are concerned about stretched services, such as doctors, schools and the like. The houses being built are top-range and out of the reach of many locals. People may argue that the priority lies with more affordable accommodation for the more needy. But if the Rod Liddle theory is right, the improved appearance of the park will bring much-needed affluence to the area. We will also need good planning of the required services, and a Waitrose, otherwise the rich people may not want to come.

Ian Charlton

Durham