I THOUGHT I had read recently that Royston shopkeepers have witnessed a drop in trade. I agree with Cllr Rod Kennedy (The Crow, February 16) that increased charges could mean drop in revenue. I personally think the business rates charged by the district

I THOUGHT I had read recently that Royston shopkeepers have witnessed a drop in trade. I agree with Cllr Rod Kennedy (The Crow, February 16) that increased charges could mean drop in revenue. I personally think the business rates charged by the district council are already high and that parking for shoppers should be free to encourage use of the shops, thereby protecting their income from the business rates paid by the shopkeepers. Private businesses need to be encouraged otherwise Royston will become a ghost town. NAME and ADDRESS SUPPLIED