In response to your article John Lewis in as Allders loses out' (Guardian, December 15), if John Lewis goes ahead it will finally put Croydon among the retail premiership of shopping facilities.

I worked for a John Lewis store in London for 18 years and came to appreciate that it is the top department store chain and an excellent employer.

My frustration was that the townsfolk of Croydon were missing out on the partnership's keen prices and excellent service.

It was well known in the company's hierarchy that Croydon was a target and that there were several enquiries as to whether Allders would sell their building to John Lewis.

I was horrified when Centrale was announced and John Lewis was not to be involved again, but now it would appear that Croydon can really compete with other locations.

All we have to hope now is that the council gets its act together over parking charges and the town can claw back so many shoppers who have decided to shop elsewhere because of the high parking fees.

This weekend I am off to Kingston to shop at John Lewis and park in its massive underground car park.

Is it too much to ask for a Waitrose to be included?

Andrew Dickinson South Croydon