Putting B&Q plans ‘on hold’ may store up trouble

what a coincidence that on the first day of official referendum campaigning, B&Q chief Sir Ian Cheshire was in Port Glasgow saying that he was not interfering in the referendum, but from a business point of view was advising people to vote against Scottish independence. If we did vote Yes, he would put development in Scotland “on hold” (your report, 31 May). He is worried about currency in Scotland after independence. Strange how this doesn’t seem to bother him with his stores in the Irish Republic and Communist China.

His is apparently not a political stand, nor is it an attempt to scare Scots. It must therefore have been a pure coincidence that Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont was with him.

I must congratulate him in succeeding in scaring me. As a shy retiring person, I shall forthwith be putting any purchases from B&Q “on hold” and go elsewhere.

This is not a political move by me – perish the thought – but I don’t want the embarrassment of having my Scottish funny money refused by this company, which is making it clear that Scotland is just a place out of which to suck money.

Thomas R Burgess

St Catherine’s Square
Perth

So, B&Q will go slow in an independent Scotland (your report, 31 May). Good. Schaffner in small Switzerland has a far better range and most of B&Q’s tools and bits and pieces come from Europe or the Far East anyway, the best from Germany. A good German hardware store would be a welcome addition to Scottish retail parks.

Lidl and Aldi have shown what German firms can do in the retail sector. Maybe that is why Tesco, Sainsbury et al are more circumspect than B&Q.

George Shering

West Acres Drive

Newport-on-Tay, Fife