HAVING read the report in the Gazette where a few short-sighted and vociferous traders are grabbing all the publicity, I feel I must write in support of all the people of Malmesbury who are in favour of a Sunday market.

Are the traders who object not aware that these days shoppers are used to having a choice of goods to purchase and that one of the reasons for their decrease in trade is that shopping in Malmesbury is becoming limited and boring.

A little competition is healthy and stimulating wake up to the modern world, traders of Malmesbury if there is no choice shoppers and tourists will get into their cars and go elsewhere.

Refusing to serve your fellow townspeople as described will lose you more customers than the market. Rudeness is never excusable.

I note that there is no mention of the two shops which have been open on Sundays as long as I have lived here, namely Somerfield and the Co-Op. They must be losing trade to the Sunday market.

However, there is a large part of the community who will shop midweek whatever happens on a Sunday as long as the service and quality are good.

I find it difficult to understand why our traders are not viewing this development with interest and joining the bandwagon there is Sunday trading everywhere these days and no one in the market is selling trousers yet.

H A LAWRENCE

Malmesbury