STEVE Austin's decision to close his Victoria Bookshop after 30 years is bad news for the book trade in general.
He is one more bookseller who has found it impossible to compete with stores and the internet which can offer discount prices.
His shop's disappearance means the loss of yet another of Old Town's once thriving specialist shops.
We welcome Dreweatt and Neate's decision to withdraw its application for permission to convert the premises into a building society office.
It must remain a retail business. Hopefully when Mr Austin leaves someone will seize the opportunity and re-open the place as a shop with a viable future.
We trust that if they do, people will support it even if that does mean paying a copper or two more than they would in a superstore.
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