Residents and traders of Manningtree are in two minds about the
possible opening of a Tesco hypermarket in the town. On one hand,
local businesses are worried about the effects on trade, and there are
also concerns about traffic congestion. On the other, there is the
possibility that more people will remain in Manningtree to do their
shopping, rather than drive to Colchester or Ipswich.

Living in Manningtree, it has been hard not to notice the decline in
high street traders. When I first moved to the town there was
practically double the number of shops, despite a far smaller
population. This is a shame, as people like to build up a relationship
with small businesses, as unlike the chain stores, such outfits rely
largely on word of mouth and personal reputation.