Sir,-I am writing concerning Sainsbury's proposal of adding housing to their supermarket on the Lower Richmond Road, Richmond.

My concern centres on the fire hazard supermarkets pose and my experience of the burning down of the Chichester branch of Sainsbury's back in 1994.

In the Chichester case, a fire started in the stock room, travelled quickly up into the roof space and a fireball flew almost instantaneously across its entire span - very swiftly engulfing the entire building.

Apparently this is not an uncommon happening in supermarket buildings as a quick search on the web will show.

In my opinion, this type of building should never be considered for incorporation into any type of housing. Not only are flammable materials routinely stored and sold in them, but constructionally, whilst I am no expert in this area, it would seem they encourage fires to spread alarmingly quickly.

Sainsbury's themselves experienced the Chichester fire - not only am I struggling to understand how, after that, they could possibly consider incorporating housing with one of their supermarkets, but I am also absolutely horrified that the thought should ever have crossed their minds.

I'm sure Sainsbury's building advisers can quote that these days there are improved building regulations, etc and give you plenty of words on the improved fire safety of buildings; I am equally sure they would have given similar reassurances before they built the Chichester store.

The point is, nobody can possibly foresee every conceivable eventuality. We are dealing with flammable materials in buildings that apparently support the rapid spread of fire. Sainsbury's are a company whose main experience is not in building residential housing - they are grocers. What value is there in any reassurance they might offer?

I am also very sceptical about Sainsbury's glossy brochure advertising the scheme as a benefit to the community. Let's not delude ourselves - Sainsbury is a business. This housing scheme is no different from any of their other activities - it is not to benefit the community, it is to make them money. Nothing more nothing less.

They will put the bottom line on the balance sheet before everything else. That is the nature of business.

I urge your readers to weigh the evidence of the fire resistance of supermarket buildings and lobby the council not to risk the lives of Richmond residents.-Hugh Shapter, Sheendale Road, Richmond.

January 30, 2003 17:00