I FEEL I need to respond to your front-page story (May 28).

While we are all relieved, and indeed pleased that Waitrose is investing in a new store in Evesham, there is much to be done to secure its and the town's future.

Patrick Staines and his committee have provided us with an Evesham Town Plan that has taken two years to finalise and £2000 to publish. It was released in early March.

We have endured a year of disruption to the town during the Abbey Bridge construction, and some retailers have not survived.

There are clearly priorities that the town plan details and these need to be addressed now.

We are told that a steering committee is to be formed to commence this work, and yet three months on we have no information and direction as to its priorities.

We have serious traffic management issues to be addressed, parking, and charging issues, the alarming number of empty shops, and the steady increase in charity shops.

If I were a Waitrose executive I would be closely following activity in the town.

The organisation is investing hundreds of thousands in its store and I would be paying attention to the Aldi and Lidl growth, along with the consequent reduction in foot traffic to the other big competitors, and I would be wanting to see some positive energy from the council to re-energise the high street.

So forgive me if I don't immediately express euphoria. I want to see some action, and to hear of targets and imminent priority plans, and to hear them now please.

Peter Wisbey

Evesham