THANK you, David Long, for highlighting the latest instance of the scourge of modern society (Letters, August 3).

Costa Coffee appears to be using the common cynical tactic of opening up multiple stores in a vicinity in order to kill off independent competition – a favourite tactic of the large corporation in their bid for global domination and homogenisation.

We should resist it, but we don’t, because we’ve all become conditioned to the easy life where everything looks and tastes the same.

We, in York, must resist any further moves like this. We already have too many chain stores and faceless corporate businesses.

York is an historic town, with a unique history and architecture and we rely heavily on tourism.

We cannot afford to become the same as everywhere else. We must resist any more of these developments in and around our city and support local businesses and the local economy, which ultimately will help to protect our heritage.

Are David Long and I alone? I hope not, let us make our views known now, before it is too late.

Gary Robson, Haxby, York.