I AM surprised Cllr Clegg should have inferred from my letter (Wiltshire Times November 9) I was blaming the town council for the exodus of small businesses from Westbury.

I was expressing my concern as I have on previous occasions about the grievous losses of entrepreneurs with their small shops from the town. On the other hand, I think I am entitled to feel aggrieved Cllr Clegg should assume I get all my opinions from the newspapers. Both the Portman Building Society and Wymaway Travel Agency officially informed their clients, of which I was one, of the reasons for their move. Portman attributed its to "the reducing frequency of customer visits." I rather think the proximity of another similar enterprise didn't help matters, either.

Mr Eaves of Wymaway wrote of his frustration, too, saying his plan to bid for the NatWest Bank site in the High Street was stymied by an official refusal (why?) to allow him to convert his premises back to the house it used to be, which could then be sold or mortgaged. He saw no way out of his dilemma other than to move to Warminster.

Regarding business rates, which I suggested might be lowered to encourage the establishing of more small shops in Westbury, Cllr Clegg pointed out they are set by central government, not the local council.

So? Does that have to be the end of the story? We currently have a government which claims it is eager to help business enterprises. Could the council not recruit the services of our new MP, and encourage him to begin to make a name for himself by putting down a question in the House of Commons, drawing attention to the deterrent effect of high business rates on small enterprises, and asking if they could not be set at a lower level on start-ups until they show a profit?

JOHN PALMLEY,

Whitecroft,

Dilton Marsh,

Westbury.