Sir, Worcester’s MP Robin Walker has issued a passionate rallying call to save more pubs.Why?

Unless there are enough patrons, who will pay to keep them open?

In 2014 the cost of living is so high and times have changed so much,that the ever increasing numbers of pubs and shops alike closing down is causing some areas to look like ghost towns.Take Barbourne in Worcester for example; the empty carpet warehouse and tyre fitters depot give a sense of devastation to the locality.

We all hate to see traders go out of business,but it is better for another to inject trade into the area (such as Sainsburys) than for the whole locality to suffer.Perhaps lower rates would help, as more shops paying lower rates would be better than a few paying too highly.

Phil Pegler

(Worcester)