Published: Thursday, 11th December, 2008 4:30am

"Eco-warrior" baker"s is not what town needs

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Like many Dunbar residents, I am saddened to see the closure of Smith"s bakers.

It is a shame that in times of economic hardship, a profitable high street business (a rarity) has closed down. I wish the Smith family a happy retirement.

On the other hand, it is very frustrating to see the approach and attitudes emanating from the "Sustaining Dunbar" group"s buy-out proposal.

While I wish to congratulate them on being awarded £10,000 from the "Big Lottery", I am in complete disagreement with regard to how they plan to spend it.

It seems a waste of money to carry out 'comprehensive market research and employ a business consultant to assist in producing a detailed commercial plan' (Courier 28/11) when many Dunbar residents, outside this group, are more than aware that Smith"s was an entirely profitable and popular baker.

If the group is entirely serious about running a baker"s, assuming they can find someone willing to get up at a staggeringly early hour to bake, they need to realise that what people want is a baker that replicates and imitates Smith"s in quality and purpose, not a tofu-churning, eco-warrior bake house or, as Jo McNamara (Courier 28/11) puts it, 'artisan-style breads'.

In terms of finding the funding to buy and run a bake house, I feel that the "Sustaining Dunbar" group"s approach here is also flawed.

The idea of a 'not-for-profit bake house' is unappealing to any sane investors.

I would suggest that the business could be run in exactly the same way

that it has been run for over a century.

The business would be there to make a profit while at the same time serving the community with quality local products and perhaps on occasion donating some funds to local worthwhile projects.

Also, while on the subject of sustainability in Dunbar"s High Street, I wish to respond to the owner of Crunchy Carrot"s comments (Courier 21/11) that his business is under threat due to a reduction in footfall, the opening of Asda and the worsening economic conditions – all valid conclusions.

But he has failed to realise that a number of people have deserted Crunchy Carrot due to the variability of the produce on sale.

I hope that everyone involved with the above operations enter the new year with a renewed sense of reality.

John Williams

Station Road

Dunbar

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