I'VE got to add my thoughts on the siting of the new store. If the patrons of other Ikea stores across the country are to be believed, there are lenghty waits to get in to their car parks, which in our case would be idling vehicles on Millbrook Road, Mountbatten Way, Winchester Road, Basset Avenue, Redbridge fly-over, M271, all city centre routes, and even longer waits to get back out again.

The site is patently impractiable. Is the real reason that Southampton City Council want it, is that their councillors and planners can preen about in the glory of the opening saying "look what we've done for the city - we don't need a WOW factor now - and look at all the Business Rates we're getting in which might have gone to Test Valley or Eastleigh if they'd put it somewhere sensible?''. Like off the the M27 or M3? Ikea themselves should have second thoughts. If you went there, would you ever go back again in the circumstances outlined, should they prove to be right? Ikea and locals - you judge.

Dave Smith, Southampton.