ON THE cattle market: yes, yes, yes. Well said that person

'name and address withheld' in Postbag.

My sentiments entirely. To help to strengthen existing

retailers and in town businesses with phased business

rates and grants to upgrade frontages, this is a great way

forward together with encouraging diversity and new

business.

Haven't I stated these things before in Postbag as well as

suggesting up-grading the existing livestock market to EU

standards and inviting organic led agricultural units and

consultancies around the market, this is the progressive

way.

It will enhance the existing character of Abergavenny,

strengthen local, independent trading and create an

agricultural flagship in Wales.

A new round of 'what supermarket design' is in full flood

with same old objections and same old opposition.

Shouldn't this tell the powers that be something? Yes but

the penny hasn't yet dropped has it?

What seems to have emerged is that for whatever reasons

(and there are many) a supermarket on the old run down

livestock market site is not wanted by the general

population. It is true to say an affordable supermarket is

needed in this economic climate because goodness knows

the out of town one we do have is too expensive for the

average family now.

Could an Aldi fit on to that ground which is an eyesore

opposite the Hen and Chicks? Goodness knows why the

present owners of the potholed site want to hang on to it.

Waiting for some sort of business bonanza no doubt.

Opposite the bus station would be a good idea, as

suggested by the 'address withheld' letter writer but it is

unlikely existing businesses will move over.

Meanwhile the town does not seem to be falling to rack

and ruin if the busy streets are anything to go by,

contrary to many a published opinion.

On travellers: How sad the recent traveller visit has been,

as ever, so vilified. And what sort of reporting is that to

comment on the number of children seen in each caravan

- prejudicial I'd say. How is it okay to engender traveller

hate? And what on earth possesses the council to assume

those super-duper vans do not have lavatories. Since

when did concern about urinating on tree trunks become

an issue on Castle Meadows?

As a dog walker, my dog and I have continued to enjoy

our walks in Castle Meadows unimpeded and with our

usual routes as lovely as ever.

The travellers kept their own dogs under control and

appeared to be having a nice time. The children (they

didn't have two heads) enjoyed the river and gave a

holiday atmosphere to the place.

If travellers have a reputation for daring to live in a

different way from the rest of us, this is no reason to bully

and intimidate them. The travellers chose to share our

common land for a temporary base. I can live with that so

did many other walkers.