Northampton market is a long and established market offering a range of items.

I accept that over the years it has changed and photographs in the Chronicle & Echo prove this.

This does not mean the market should be savagely reduced.

The produce provided by stallholders is fresher than that provided by the major supermarkets and uses less wrapping.

What would the out-of-town supermarkets say if they were told they had to reduce the items on sale and install pay and display arrangements (without the possibility of reimbursement at the till) at the same level that is charged at on-street parking and pay and display car parks in the town centre?

The council should put their efforts in to creating a town centre that attracts as many people as possible, particularly over the weekend.

There has been huge debate reported in the local press surrounding the charges and proposed increases in charges for parking and to top it off the latest suggestion is to ban traffic from Gold Street.

The council has already seen the closure of the indoor market and put no effort into creating a good shopping environment or improving the property.

Perhaps a visit to the indoor market in Oxford could have helped.

It's no good the council thinking that these sort of decisions help if they don't listen to those who use the facilities.

I bet they would listen to a major supermarket and wouldn't dare suggest anything to upset them.

Come on council, back your town and then you can be proud of what you do.

But until then, don't hold your head up too high.
Janet Cooper,
Victoria Gardens, Northampton.

Expertise is free for the asking
Plans recently unveiled by Northampton Borough Council to reshape our lovely Market Square are a waste of time and cash, because these measures will not pull in shoppers and increase footfall to the town centre.

I must say the upheaval of market traders, from prime locations, does not make sense to me.

This council seems to forget that a thriving market is good for Northampton town centre and the town's local economy will be hard hit as well with serious repercussions.

Like the previous Conservative council, this Liberal Democrat administration ought to listen to market traders more and consultants less because the expertise required is already there within the market traders themselves and is free for the asking.

As a market trader, I think cheap parking needs to be implemented if the council wants to see Northampton town centre revive as a shopping area.

I'm also going to write to Legal and General, owners of Grosvenor Centre, to voice my concerns for our town centre.
E J Fitzpatrick,
Ridgeway, Northampton.

Forget the big TV screen idea
Having read the Chronicle & Echo last week and seen four grown men belting each other with their handbags, I think it is about time they acted like grown-ups and stopped trying to score political points off each other.

Messrs Wood, Howes, Hadland and Church should get together, drop politics and realise four sheep heads are better than one.

Between you all, this town is in a mess and needs common sense, not consultants.

When the big shops moved out to Riverside and other areas out of the town centre, this brought about the decline of Abington Street and still goes on.

The Market Square should be put back to how it was and give the centre area some seats and perhaps a fountain. Forget the TV screens . . . we've got them at home!

We don't need music, it's in the shops now and in the Grosvenor Centre, It's nice to get outside and have some peace!

Oh dear, I seem to have missed out Mr Clarke. How lucky he is to be out of Parliament and this useless Government.
Geoffrey Care,
Lorne Road, Northampton.

BBB day was a great success
Did you visit the old Fish Market on Saturday afternoon? Hundreds of people did, because it was the day of the BBB of course!

What's a BBB?

A Bicycle Basket Bazaar.

Dozens of bikes, of all shapes and sizes, some plain, some decorated, with baskets front and rear and hanging from handle bars, filled with mostly handcrafted items, ranging from practical peg bags to exotic accessories and headgear.

These were accompanied with home made cakes, jams and pastries, and a varied assortment of memorabilia, clothes, cards and jewellery.

It was colourful, friendly, with live music, toilet facilities and a cafe.

It's a great idea. All pitches were moderately priced, and it made a lively contribution to our town centre.

Now why can't something similar happen on our open market (on a different day please)?

Markets are made for markets and the BBB was enjoyed by people of all ages.

There was something for everyone.
Hazel Hiam,
Byron Street, Northampton.

Streets will never be the same
In view of the present economic situation, will the council and powers that be consider the spending of money they haven't got and look for ways of saving?

Gold Street and the Market Square will never be the same.

People will spend their money at the supermarkets near to home, thus saving on travel fares.

If the coming recession is really going to happen, it will be worse than the 1920s, 1930s, when there was real poverty. Does anyone remember the means test?

Many of the younger generation have been brought up used to being able to get money and not work for it. How will they stand up to it when the pot is empty?
R H Sambrooks,
St James Park Road, Northampton.

Not all travellers ignore the law
While I have sympathy with Peter Minney's disgust (August 24) at the compensation paid to the travellers, he is clearly under a common misapprehension.

Sadly, too many equate gypsies with travellers, an umbrella term encompassing gypsies, drop-outs, tinkers, didicoys etc.

While some travellers are accused of leaving rubbish everywhere, others put out sacks for collection.

Traditional gypsies have followed their way of life for centuries, have organised communities and their own gypsy councils.

Some take up their way of life because of the housing situation.

We should spare a thought for those losing their homes, simply because they hit difficulties in a bad point in the housing market.

Gypsies and other travellers are human beings like us all and do not deserve broadsweep condemnation.

If we do not provide sites, gypsies will simply camp on the roadside. I deplore the unsocial behaviour shown by a sizeable minority of travellers, but we must remember they are not all like that.
Colin Bricher,
Local Spokesman, Christian Peoples Alliance party, Northampton.