Dounby is a thriving village located in the West Mainland of the Orkney Islands. It is served well by 5 local independent shops, and until recently an excellent Co-Op store which had one of the highest turnovers for a small Co-Op of its size. There were daily deliveries of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat , fish, eggs, dairy products including yoghurts, butter, cheese and milk. 

Without any consideration of local needs the site has been taken over by Asda, who have replaced the daily deliveries of fresh food with a mix of 'ready meals'. Not even milk, or the local newspaper is available for purchase any more. This will have many adverse impacts. 

From a health viewpoint 'ready meals' are notorious for having high salt, sugar and fat contents and are of dubious nutritional value. The environmental impact is also severe as the local population will now have to make long journeys to the one the two nearest towns to do their weekly, or 'top-up' shop; a task made difficult for those who rely on our limited public transport.

This petition is to both the Co-Op stores groups requesting them to take the site back into their ownership, and to Asda to ask them to ensure that the store is as well stocked with fresh food as previously, with a wide range of choice including organic and local produce.