Hi there - I'm just reading a book by Joanna Blythman called SHOPPED: The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets. It provides a fascinating but worrying account of the development of supermarkets and the devastating impact they've had on the commercial life of towns all over the country - not least, of course, Pudsey itself. Blythman describes how you go about recognising what she calls a 'Trolley Town': "What does a trolley town look like? The first thing that greets you is not some distinctive civc monument or landmark but the now familiar supermarket sprawl, complete with its new roundabouts, altered road layout, traffic signals with changed priorities, petrol station and sea of parking. Welcome to Asdatown. You'll search to find anything approximating to a small greengrocer, fishmonger or butcher. These have been replaced by video shops, charity shops and estate agents." Sound like anywhere you know?
'Historic Market Town' or 'Thriving Market Town' - which would you prefer and what can be done about it?
You are so right about Pudsey. I have lived in Pudsey 75 yrs and my mind still goes back to the lovely shops like Davy's bread shop but they never stand a chance with supermarkets.
Nobody can compete, and i know things are cheap, so how is it we all spend more.
You might pop in for a loaf, tea bags, and a carton of milk. On your way out you will find you have spent about £30 or maybe £40 because you have been conned with all the bargains.
Then we bring it all home and find we can hardly fit it in our cupboards.
Only problem is we can never get those days back they have gone for ever.
Pudsey will never be the same again, and when I think of our rations of the war years and how we managed with our 2oz of butter and 2oz tea and one egg a week.
My mother used to save her egg so she could make a yorkshire Pudding for our Sunday dinner but I can still remember that lovely pudding swimming in rabbit gravy
Hi there - I'm just reading a book by Joanna Blythman called SHOPPED: The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets. It provides a fascinating but worrying account of the development of supermarkets and the devastating impact they've had on the commercial life of towns all over the country - not least, of course, Pudsey itself. Blythman describes how you go about recognising what she calls a 'Trolley Town': "What does a trolley town look like? The first thing that greets you is not some distinctive civc monument or landmark but the now familiar supermarket sprawl, complete with its new roundabouts, altered road layout, traffic signals with changed priorities, petrol station and sea of parking. Welcome to Asdatown. You'll search to find anything approximating to a small greengrocer, fishmonger or butcher. These have been replaced by video shops, charity shops and estate agents." Sound like anywhere you know? 
