SIR,

Sometimes in this world of ours we feel we have done something right and with the publishing of the Mary Portas' review of the high streets in Britain I feel I have achieved something, even if no-one will listen.

A few months ago I wrote a letter to your newspaper mentioning the demise of our high streets and pointed out that fresh ideas were needed to bring back the stores and the people.

My main theme was to allow market stalls into the high street, allowing shopkeepers and other stallholders to sell their wares unhindered by local councils.

I was so pleased to read that Mary Portas in her review has stated the way forward "to breathe new life back into our dying streets is to allow market traders and retailers to set up stalls and sell us fruit, vegetables, clothes and crafts".

If councils lift restrictions we'll be rescued from half boarded-up cloned shopping conclaves, the shoppers would be intrigued by the variety of produce on display and where there were none, there would be pound coins.

Anyway, these small stalls would be a boon to small traders who would not in normal times be able to afford the landlord's shop rentals.

As I write this letter I notice Barretts Priceless Shoes has finished trading with the prospect of another 210 empty stores, it is a sad and hard time for our traders on the high street.

John C Morgan

(Monmouth)