TWO communities look set to be losing their shops in the near future. In Menston, supermarket prices and the convenience of being able to park have been blamed, while in Pool-in-Wharfedale the village's newsagent may also be closing - very likely for the same reasons.

It is a sad - but real fact - that most of us with busy lives would far rather make one trip to do all our shopping. We might bemoan the passing of the friendly local shop - but how many of us religiously take our trade to the corner shop rather than make the one visit to the new churches of commercialism - Tesco, Safeway and Morrisons?

For those who rely on the local shop - and every village will have some - it is a devastating blow. Not everyone has a car, but those who don't probably don't count for much at the end of the day. And for those who run the shops - what sort of profit can they hope to make? They can hardly be expected to stay open for the good of the village, however much some villagers might think they should.

Every time a supermarket moves into town the cry of 'unfair competition' goes up. Devotees of small shops might claim they will boycott the big boys and stay with their small shops. But how long does that last before the lure of ample parking, plenty of choice and very possibly, newspapers and a caf work its magic?

We all want choice, we want value for money and we want speed - so we can only blame ourselves when our village shops shut down.

l Litter - few things annoy people with a love of their community more than rubbish drifting about in the streets.

And now Otley Town Council is asking people to suggest how things could be improved - one can only hope the council knows what it is doing. As hot potatoes go, it's got to be on a par with potholes in the roads.