I AM writing to add my voice to concerns about the Covered Market.

For several years I was the executive board member with responsibility for the Covered Market and worked with the traders to improve maintenance and communications between the council and traders.

It seems to me that there are two main issues to consider – the city council’s leasing strategy and its policy regarding appropriate rent levels.

The council’s leasing strategy, agreed by the executive board in 2006, gives guidelines on the balance of shops within the Market.

It seeks to protect the market’s historic role as a centre for independent retailers and for fresh food.

Given this role, it is clearly inappropriate to look at high street comparators when setting rents.

However, as has been seen with recent changes of use, the main aim of the leasing strategy has been ignored in order to maximise revenue from rent.

While the council must always act in the interests of council tax payers, this does not mean that it should inevitably go for the highest rent.

As research has shown, local independents plough back far more money into the local economy than national chains do.

In addition, they add interest to town centres that would otherwise look identical and dull. Other cities, such as Bath and Bristol, have successfully adopted policies which champion local independent businesses.

It is high time that Oxford did the same, stuck to its leasing strategy and looked at independent retailers when setting rent levels.

MARY CLARKSON (Cllr) Marston Ward Oxford City Counci