IT seems that the decision by the supermarket Tesco to stay open 24 hours a day has angered quite a few people.

There are many opinions on the matter, from those who live near the store to those who object in principal to 24-hour opening. While 24-hour opening may be a wise choice for stores in areas where a lot of shift workers do not keep the same hours as many of us, is it really the way the branch in Ilkley should operate?

The Tesco store in Ilkley is not on the outskirts of the town; it is slap bang in the middle of a residential area and close to two retirement complexes where people value their peace and quiet.

However, Tesco management would argue that the company wants to provide extra convenience for shoppers who don't want to shop at normal times. There seems to be an issue over whether 24-hour opening is appropriate in a small town like Ilkley which is not famed for its night life, and hardly full of club-goers who want to buy some extra goods before making their way home at three o'clock in the morning.

There is also the aspect of the way the decision will affect local corner shops which have evolved to capture the niche market as 'convenience' stores, open when the supermarkets are closed.

If the supermarkets are never closed, what advantage and what future will the corner shops have?

Perhaps Tesco should conduct a survey to find out how many people are not happy at all about 24-hour opening, then compare this to the number of customers who think it is absolutely marvellous to toddle along at half-past-three in the morning to buy a tin of cat food?

If the number is around the same, then maybe the supermarket executives should have a long hard think about the future of the initiative.