What is wrong with the open market?

AS recently as May 12, completely out of the blue, the members of the Leamington Society learned that the county council has it in mind to sell the site of the fire station and that Deeley Properties, associated with Waitrose, is more than interested.

By The Newsroom

Published 12th Jun 2011, 15:53 BST

Now, only a fortnight later, we have a picture of the proposed store.

I deduce that Deeley has known about the possible sale for ages, long before the people who live in the town and even, I am told, before councillors. Why, who told Deeley, why Deeley?

Even if the fire station needs to be moved, which is extremely doubtful, might there not be other buyers, perhaps with more useful and interesting ideas than Deeley? What is wrong with the open market?

Does the council not have a duty to consider other bidders, especially the highest? - R P Taylor, St Mary’s Terrace, Leamington.

Waitrose Leamington