Sir – In response to the article about Cards Galore purchasing space in the Covered Market (February 9). Oxford’s Covered Market is part of Oxford’s town heritage and an asset to local people and our visitors — not just a piece of history but an economic asset, and a very special place.
We know that the city council is under financial pressure but there needs to be some balance in the approach they are taking. The media has been full of Mary Portas and her call for independent traders and individual character in our towns and cities — we already have that place in Oxford’s Covered Market.
The anger and concern over the national greetings card retailer who have been allowed to take a large unit is justified, for whilst we understand why they want to be there, we cannot see why the city council is allowing this to happen — this is so clearly against the spirit of the place; it spoils its character — we must make sure that it does not continue to happen.
Lauren Schofield, Oxford Preservation Trust
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