Bizarre story of the week concerns the angry inhabitants of a seaside town in Lincolnshire, who, according to the local paper, “stormed” a local council meeting with a 1,000-strong petition about a proposed superstore. “People here seem to be suffering from apathy because they don't believe they can make any difference,” one local campaigner said. The usual story.

But here is the odd bit. Residents of Mablethorpe were not complaining about a new store, to the detriment of established retailers. They were demanding one. And an Asda, not just any old Tesco or Sainsbury's. Yes, I know there is no difference, a point apparently conceded by the Competition Commission. But an Asda?

The Leeds-based chain tries some stuff about low prices, which gets it nowhere here, and then concedes that people might just want a change from the usual suspects. Alas, “currently we aren't looking for a new store in Mablethorpe”.

Elephant and the mouse

There is an unexpected note of irony in that Competition Commission report into the big supermarkets, which notes that fuel vouchers available at same might constitute predatory pricing, charging less than the cost of the product. “Competitors to grocery retailers in fuel distribution include large multinational firms such as Shell and BP,” the report notes, making it “unlikely” that a grocer could drive these out of business.

Message received... very slowly

At the Institute of Directors' conference at the Albert Hall, there was disquiet among delegates about the abysmal wi-fi reception, which is usually pretty appalling, apparently. “It's massively, massively slow,” complained one person there. How unfortunate, then, that the conference should happen to be sponsored by T-Mobile. You'd think they'd use their own kit.

Custom and practice

HM Revenue & Customs, for security reasons, insists on the provision of plenty of personal information before they help with any phone inquiry. A reader tried to turn the tables, demanding proof that it really was the Revenue. They refused, with impeccable if irritating logic. “Their stock answer is that they must be, as I have phoned them.”

Rapier wit displayed at Mansion house

Much mirth at Mansion House, where they held a dinner to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding, by Lord Ashcroft, of Crimestoppers. Lord Mayor David Lewis was seated in front of a large picture of one of his predecessors committing a nasty knife crime. This was of the death of Wat Tyler at Smithfield during the Peasants' Revolt. Approaching Richard II, he was slashed to the ground by Lord Mayor William Walworth and finished off by one of the king's esquires. Richard then dispersed the crowd by promising them their freedom and then had the ringleaders arrested and executed. Lewis came in for some ribbing. “Nobody bothered ringing Crimestoppers because they knew who did it,” he admitted. “An open and shut case.”

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