REGARDING the campaign to save the Sportsman’s Arms in Penketh (Warrington Guardian, May 5).

As it stands, Marston Brewery sold the site along with 201 pubs back in December 2013.

Pubs that were deemed unprofitable sat on prime locations and so on.

The landlord of the Sporties has no interest or desire to remain there. New River Retail, which now owns the site have it up for sale, and Netto wants to buy it.

Since this became common knowledge we have had two council meetings with the residents who feel strongly against the proposed plans as they think that Penketh has enough supermarkets, convenient stores and do not wish to see another specifically one across the road from another.

We as a campaign group have been overwhelmed with support to save the pub. So much so that councillors used it as a campaign for their own re-election bids.

A meeting between Netto reps was held at the new methodist church.

My wife and I attended the meeting and there must have been somewhere in the region of about 20 to 30 residents who came to find out for themselves.

On the strength of that a Netto press release said that they have the weight of the community in favour of a supermarket.

You can come to Penketh, stand outside the pub or the Co-op and there won’t be one person you speak to who would be in favour of a supermarket.

JOHN MYERS Penketh