MR Michael Lever's letter (Your Letters, May 21) clearly indicates that he is not a member of the Ledbury Independent Traders' Association or he might perhaps have a more realistic view not only of the threat that out-of-town retail parks present, but of the genuine concern that, with very few exceptions, is felt among LITA's traders.

It is not only traders who are becoming more concerned as the office of the wretched John Prescott has once again given the green light for use of "brownfield" sites as retail parks, and there are 12 hectares of such land on the edge of Ledbury, if that land is not soon put to other use e.g. industrial, housing. Many of Ledbury's residents are now alert to the danger. It happened in Malvern, it must not be allowed to happen in Ledbury.

Might I also draw the attention, not only of Mr Lever but of all other interested persons to Shopped: the shocking power of British supermarkets, by Joanna Blythman, published by Fourth Estate at £12.99 (available from Tesco).

I presented an abridged version to each LITA member attending the general meeting on May 11. It makes very uncomfortable reading for those traders whose financial security, and that of their families, will almost certainly be severely affected by an ever larger retail park on the outskirts of Ledbury.

Homebase would not have built a store in Ledbury if they did not believe the "rewards were considerable". How much (extra) money does he imagine there is available to Ledbury's residents to spend to provide Homebase with its "considerable rewards" without some affect being felt by virtually every shop in Ledbury?

Homebase sells bedroom and lounge furniture; kitchens; bathrooms; white goods; ornaments; every conceivable item of equipment for kitchens, bathrooms and home decoration; linens of every description. How many of Ledbury's shops could be affected in just that short list?

LEN C HUFF, The Homend, Ledbury.