I APPLAUD the letter of Nick Adams (Postbag, January 17) and agree with the sentiments and would urge everyone who cares about Royston to read it. There is no doubt that shopping habits have changed, strongly influenced by Tesco and the punitive attitude

I APPLAUD the letter of Nick Adams (Postbag, January 17) and agree with the sentiments and would urge everyone who cares about Royston to read it.

There is no doubt that shopping habits have changed, strongly influenced by Tesco and the punitive attitude of North Herts District Council with regard to parking charges.

But the people of Royston have decided not to support local food shops other than the baker so we have lost all of our butchers and fresh produce stores.

Other small communities such as Baldock, Ashwell and Melbourn have thriving butcher shops.

We have recently seen resistance to a planning application for a restaurant in Angel Pavement partly on the basis that it is a "prime retail site", but half of the town centre is an empty prime retail site and no-one wants to open a retail outlet so let's get real.

People like to eat in Royston and the wider the choice the more people will be attracted.

Baldock has thrived on its origins as a coaching town and as such offers a wide variety of restaurants - and free parking.

Much emphasis is put on the pedestrian friendly requirement of any town centre development, but let us not forget that most people want the first part of their journey to be by car and, therefore, we need to maintain adequate, safe and cheap or free parking. Do we really want multi-storey car parks?

What about putting a levy on each parking space in Tesco as a local tax and use the proceeds to abolish parking charges?

J C DAVIES

Melbourn Road,Royston