I THOUGHT I would write this letter in response to your article regarding the French market at the Wootton Bassett Jubilee Festival.

When I drove past the market on Friday I immediately thought what a good idea this was to start the Jubilee Festival. It was something different.

This is why I have enjoyed living in Wootton Bassett for 35 years because of such events.

This Jubilee Festival should have been held during the Jubilee weekend in June not August. There was no red, white and blue bunting, flags or reference to the Queen's 50 years, during the whole weekend.

So I feel that bringing in the French market was a good move.

This is a small but growing town which needs fresh ideas to keep the community vibrant and alive and to attract visitors from nearby villages.

To hear then that the traders were angry because of lost trade is quite ironic as these are the same traders who have been repeatedly asked not to park all day in the High Street, using up all the car parking spaces which in turn prevents passing visitors to stop and explore the town.

It puts into perspective our market which has got smaller and smaller. The choice has diminished.

The Farmers' Market I agree is a good idea which supports the local community which again is essential but there must be something wrong if we can't allow one weekend for something different.

We as local people and customers always support our local traders, which is only right but don't tell me who I can buy from and who I can't. Who runs the town the town council or the traders?

I hope that the town council and the traders can sort their differences out, so that in the future others who come to the town are treated in a friendly and hospitable manner.

M T WALTON

Wood Street

Wootton Bassett