Karen Carter, despite being in Devizes for only 12 years, displays all the narrow, self-centred, self-righteousness required to fit right in.

However, had she been around longer she would know that moaning minnies, just like her, were complaining about young people drinking, making a mess and showing disrespect long before she arrived.

She would remember the fuss that surrounded a burger van setting up in the Market Place, or the concern over the Nags Head a notorious trouble-spot (but also a hell of a lot of fun) or any number of complaints over activities and behaviours indicative of a vital and vibrant town where younger people not only lived, but felt welcome.

With a greater historical perspective she might know that the mass exodus that occurs every weekend started back then, as the young, the fun, the bright and the beautiful fled the suffocating intolerance that typifies a place known throughout Wiltshire as The Geriatric Town, for the delights God help them of Melksham, Chippenham and Bath.

With a little thought she would see that the streets she is claiming for her very own are no such thing. It is a good bet that any teens or 20-somethings still in Devizes are as much natives as she and are as entitled to use the streets for their activities as she for hers, despite being loud and messy.

With a little extra thought she might even find it in her heart to share, or perhaps she could pick up litter she doesn't like and put in in the bin as I do rather than berating strangers.

Unfortunately, she lacks both historical perspective and tolerance, so she writes about reclaiming the streets from perfectly normal young people as if she had seen four horsemen of the apocalypse galloping up, despite the fact that the same complaints from the same sort of people with the same sense of impending doom have been voiced for more than 20 years.

She might consider the long-term effects of her attitude.

How many parents only see their children once or twice a year due to the kids' reluctance to waste time in Devizes?

How much money is lost from the local economy as people flee the town?

And how much raw and trained talent ends up hundreds or thousands of miles away because some people in Devizes just do not know how to share the space?

It's a pity. My partner and I have just spent a lovely few days in the West Country, including Devizes, looking at properties and business opportunities for us to invest in.

The lovely buildings, the rampant greenery, and the undeniable history of the town worked like a charm on us.

There were only two black marks. Firstly, Devizes has a wretched transport infrastructure that severely limits the flow of cash and people to and from the town day and night.

Secondly, Karen Carters' letter was a timely reminder that perhaps the best investment we could make would be a driving school to help more people escape.

Xavier Gallagher

Duncrievie Road

London