I WAS very interested to read your article in last week's Gazette about J D Wetherspoon.

Your remark that there were no objections to the liqueur licence is incorrect. I wrote to the court at Salisbury and had a telephone conversation with a lady. She phoned me.

I followed a comment in the Gazette that objections had to be made by a certain date February 3. Mine was there but I was told the closing date was the day earlier but my objection was on file.

It would appear the council is to give a consent, which in my opinion will do little to encourage people to stay in Devizes shopping because of the traffic problems this development is likely to create.

I only hope they will regret the lack of consideration given to the granting of a consent when given. I am also surprised that the licence should be granted before the planning consent and before the premises to be refurbished are yet to be started.

W SHEPHERD

Devizes