I find it unbelievable that after two years the Oxford City Council has still not reached an agreement with the Covered Market traders. Is it because the council will not conclude an agreement until it gets what it wants?

As I have previously said the council should abide by the decision of the arbitrator in 2013, sign the agreement and as a sign of goodwill allow the new rent to come into effect from the day they sign the agreement, not back date it. Does it care about the distress it is causing the traders?

I think not because at the end of the day the council’s end game if the truth is to be known is to shut the market down. There can be no other explanation otherwise an agreement would have been reached. If the council jobsworths who are responsible for trying to resolve this issue cannot do so then they should step aside and let others do it for them.

Oh, sorry, I forgot that is what the arbitrators are meant for.

David Reed, Pearce Way, Thame

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