ACCORDING to the Daily Telegraph, the inquiry into the 2007 summer floods concluded that the reason why so many properties, nationwide, are vulnerable to flooding is because there has been so much building on floodplains.

Previously, these had been considered no-go areas for development.

And it’s not only the properties on floodplains that get flooded.

Because these developments occupy former flood storage areas, flooding now extends beyond the floodplains.

Despite the rivers that converge on our city, draining most of south Wiltshire, Salisbury has not experienced the sort of flooding faced by other towns and cities.

The reason is that, over many years, the Avon and Nadder floodplains have been protected and kept free from development.

As a former district councillor, I’m proud to have played a small part in this protection.

So what is so special about Sainsbury’s that they should expect to be exempt from the proven and eminently correct planning policy and allowed to build on the Avon floodplain next to Southampton Road?

Your report (Journal, January 2) says they are to have talks with ‘statutory consultees’.

Apparently this bears the wonderfully weasel title of ‘scoping application’.

Rather than devise a number of ‘impact statements’ (whatever they are) there is only one message for the council to convey to Sainsbury’s – on your bike, and steer well clear of Salisbury’s floodplains.

MALCOLM READ, West Grimstead

THE picture of the flood plain doing what it has always done, (SJOpinion, January 9), brings to mind an event that occurred during the earthworks operation that preceded the construction of Tesco off Southampton Road.

I recall that the earthmoving contractor used the field south of the A36 off what is known locally as the Tesco roundabout to temporarily stockpile surplus material so that it could then be carted away in one operation.

This was stopped by the then council, shortly after the stockpiling had commenced, as it was considered that it would prejudice the flood plain, and the contractor was ordered to remove the material immediately.

I hope that when those in power consider any planning application that would result in a permanent construction covering a very large area of the flood plain with an impermeable layer, they will bear this in mind.

PA CHARTER, Salisbury

To provide one answer to Jacqueline Exley (Postbag, January 9) and to Annie Riddle (SJOpinion, January 9) to the question; why another supermarket on Southampton Road?

It’s because retail businesses – especially those occupying similar positions in the market – like to get together. It’s good for trade; the competition brings in the customers. Look at the number of tyre and exhaust garages on the same road.

So when the Sainsbury’s developers say ‘it’s the only site available…’, they mean ‘… for the levels of turnover and profit we seek to make’.

If it’s not commercially viable they won’t build, whatever other sites in the area may seem more sensible or be physically available.

We can be quite sure they’ve done their homework on this one.

JEREMY COURT, Salisbury