Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 16:31:20 on Wed, 2
Jul 2008, Tony Bryer remarked:
I tend to agree with that. When a new Tesco is built people say how
dreadful - but they shop there

Yes, standard planning objections to all new large retail development
round he

1. No one wants it.

2. All the people using it will lead to traffic chaos.

But don't forget that if the traffic gets *too* bad, no-one will shop
there any more.


That simply isn't true.

If the congestion reaches unacceptable levels, some people will begin
to shop elsewhere. That will reduce the congestion.

If some people then return to shopping at Tesco, the congestion will
increase. And then some other people will begin to shop elsewhere.

The cycle continues until a sort of equilibrium is achieved, and the
congestion is just about acceptable.

It's a bit like a journey to work in a congested town or city. You
might have two or three alternative routes. When one gets congested,
people switch to an alternative route. Those alternative routes then
get congested, and some people switch back.

It is self regulating to the extent that journey times using the
various alternative routes will all tend to a very similar value.