MY family has been involved with Royston for more than 200 years. We began banking there in 1808, selling out to Barclays in 1898. I have lived in Odsey since the early 1950s and I know Royston well. I would now like to enter the current discussion on the

MY family has been involved with Royston for more than 200 years. We began banking there in 1808, selling out to Barclays in 1898.

I have lived in Odsey since the early 1950s and I know Royston well.

I would now like to enter the current discussion on the market and town generally.

For a long time I have thought Royston does not deserve the bad press which it continually seems to get.

I know there have been mistakes made, particularly in planning terms, and I know Tesco is a problem to the traders, but I can, within the town, do practically all the shopping which I need to do, and much of my general business, all in reasonable comfort, with good access and acceptable parking.

The market, it seems to me, is crucial to Royston.

After all, historically, Royston is a famous market town and without the market it would be lost.

A thriving market must be kept, and if possible, expanded.

It is essential for the town's long-term and successful future.

The trouble is we are bedevilled by bureaucracy, politically dominated local government, and by people who are not local taking decisions on matters which, strictly, should not be theirs to take.

Of course, Royston Town Council should run the market.

Why does it have to tender to do so? I would not have thought it was a particularly difficult job to do. We are burdened with so-called experts who often are not experts at all.

The town council should stand up for itself and insist on running the market itself on whatever basis it feels would be of benefit to the town.

I would wholly support any initiative by the town council to manage its own affairs.

C J K FORDHAM

Odsey Park

Ashwell