Sir; Your Opinion column (The Grocer, October 21) hit the nail on the head when it referred to the plight facing so many of our country stores. You rightly describe them as "essential service providers" and, from my experiences in this part of North Derbyshire, they are just that. Yet, sadly, many operators are facing such spiralling costs that they are barely going to survive into 2001. You suggest that the government's Rural White Paper might help. I hope so. Britain's rural communities cannot do without their sub post offices and small grocers. Business life does not only revolve around the big boys. So come on Mr Blair, let's see action to save these small people. Joe Johnson Buxton {{LETTERS }}