SIR,
The figures stated as fact by S Bennett in his letter to the Beacon (22nd December) regarding Monmouth market traders' wishes are incorrect.
The fact is that Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) assured the original traders that the market would return to the Shire Hall.
The majority of those traders do wish to return and as stated by Tim Buckland in his letter to the Beacon, the refurbishment of the hall included several features to enable the market to return.
Another questionable fact is that the market is now privately owned and operated.
The traders have been informed that the market is being run under license to MCC for the duration of the temporary relocation.
The matter of where the market should be located is part of a much bigger issue and should not be decided by the market traders alone.
The really important question is what the residents and business people of Monmouth think about the long term future of the market, the Shire Hall and Monmouth.
Should the hall be a beautiful and useful building, a central hub of the community, a 'hall for all', or should it be a museum piece that we all admire from a distance but is of no real practical use?
The Friday and Saturday market and the Tourist Information Centre are an important part of Monmouth to visitors and residents.
Monmouth has lost many of the things that made it a unique, interesting and special place to live and visit.
We need to bring the Shire Hall back to life.
Let's have a public meeting and find out what the people of Monmouth think.
Surely MCC would be interested to know?
D Quinn – Market Trader
(Monmouth)