BEING a former resident of Bewdley and having moved to Stourport two years ago I must admit I empathised with correspondent J Evans,of Gwbert-on-Sea regarding the seeming waste of the historic Bewdley quayside.

Nothing would seem more pleasant than to have the quayside brought to life by boating activity.

It must be remembered that Bewdley was born from the activity on the river and the current reticence of many Bewdley residents to "bring the quayside back to life" seems rather unjustified.

It might be worth the Bewdley population questioning their resistance to the idea of a navigable river as once again in the long term as tourism becomes more important, it might help to save the traders in the town - excluding, of course, the prostitutes who thrived during the last time Bewdley depended on the river!

JONATHON EVANS

Parkes Quay

Stourport