Would they like to be in her position of having to pay extortionate rates and rents? I think not.

Having just closed my shop door after 30 years trading I can only say Knutsford is a difficult town to trade in and the past few years have also been a struggle for me.

There is no way out of a lease and landlords couldnt really care less about individuals trading position. They naturally want their return.

So far as Knutsford is concerned the restaurants may be booming, but an unbalanced town makes it harder and harder for smaller retailers to survive.

In Europe no small town would suffer the same way as there are plenty of mixed businesses and the large live with the small.

There is also a national problem in the way business rates are fixed and no Government has yet been seen to help the small trader.

Rates should be fixed on turnover basis and not in their present form.

The old saying that market forces dictate the way of business may be true, but at some point there has to be a happy medium and while one can not dictate how and where consumers spend their money local towns need support from as many people as possible.

CLR BARBARA AUSTIN

Former owner of Etceteras

King Street