MALMESBURY is England's oldest borough and oldest market town and I love my home town. I am proud of its lovely abbey and Market Cross.

Reading my council tax leaflet, I quote: "The Market Cross is one of the finest in the country, built in the reign of Henry VII, about 1490 for the purpose to shelter poor market folk when it rained". This tells me that on a fine day markets are held in the area at all times and on dry days

markets are still held, just not in the Market Cross itself.

If the traders are objecting to the outdoor market on Sundays, afraid of the competition, why don't the traders join the market people by opening on a Sunday? Then people can choose where they buy their goods as it is the traders of this town who are taking away the freedom of choice from Malmesbury shoppers such as myself. As far as I know I still have the freedom to choose. It is my birthright, as it is everyone else's in this town. The traders should not be allowed to take it away.

I think it's time Malmesbury town councillors did what they were voted to do, which is to do their best for the people of the town, not just the few who are trading here.

I am Malmesbury born and bred. How many of the traders can say the same? I do nearly all my shopping in Malmesbury but now and again if I am out for the day I may shop elsewhere. We have some lovely shops and I support them but I would also support the market if they had something I liked or needed.

We had a very nice music shop and I was shocked to see it is closing down and I did shop there when I had the money, not Chippenham or anywhere else. I also buy all my vegetables in a local shop as it's good value and fresh. I do all my groceries in Somerfield. I think it is a good shop, friendly and with free delivery, and Knees have a wonderful range of different goods, but I still say Malmesbury should have its Sunday market as this is a market town and the people should have the choice.

MS P MOULDER

Malmesbury