SIR – What are our town centres for? Can the council rise to the challenge of these changing times?

No doubt many High Street shops will become vacant in the current climate. Will the vacant properties just be boarded up leading to the demise of our shopping centres? I suggest that this situation requires an imaginative approach from our planners.

Business does not have to be big to be beautiful.

Many years ago people could go along to their local market and sell their locally grown produce.

What barriers have been erected by our society to stop this happening now?

Take the example of French farmers who form co-operatives to get their local produce to markets. Why can’t this happen here? Why does everything have to be bought from a supermarket with it’s high margin markup?

Take an objective look at your town centre.

Why are so many convenient roads enslaved by double yellow lines, whose original purpose seemed to be to drive motorists into paying council car parking fees. Aren’t they now acting as a barrier to lower priced retail accommodation?

Of course, our town centres are a significant source of rates which help to fund our councils and reduce council tax bills. I believe we should be seeking to create lower priced retail accommodation.

Ordinary people could then look forward to a little extra income from their home grown produce and farmers may not be held to ransom by supermarket pricing.

PETER JONES, Worcester.