I THINK Steven Bennett is right to be concerned about the possibility of Oxford City Council’s ruling group abusing its political dominance over the management of the Covered Market (June 19).
Yet he is also right that there is little danger of the market closing and this is because the council has exploited it as a cash-cow for so long.
For all its soothing words, Cllr Clarkson’s letter (May 23) makes it clear that the council is intending to make the traders pay for the council’s own lack of investment which has brought about this crisis and impose substantial rent increases to fund the improvements that are needed.
If these increases drive some of the traditional traders out, they are likely to be replaced by the only businesses capable of paying High Street rents, namely boutique chains such as have already moved into the market.
If this happens, Oxford will have lost its traditional market and visitors will have gained a ghetto of trendy boutiques. That is the real danger.
NIGEL HISCOCK
Great Clarendon Street
Oxford
Today’s letters
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