IS it not time that some of the money we all pay in excessive Council Tax in this area was used to build a purpose-built market hall to house the market traders, and to provide a venue for a farmers' market as well as our friends from over the water?

Markets have always been at the centre of the trading life of successful towns and provide a much-needed challenge to the monopoly of the big supermarkets.

I used to look forward to market days and the interest and fun of going around the various stalls looking for bargains, and it was the one thing that took me into Kidderminster.

Many of the people I know regret bitterly the demise of the market tradition, with its variety of stalls and the characters who ran them.

The council seems to be able to find plenty of money for projects that people do not really want.

Perhaps when the plans for the town hall are drawn up these could include providing a home for the markets traders also, whose loss will take the heart out of Kidderminster for me and for many others.

Also, while having stalls in the streets is fine in summer, neither traders nor customers enjoy standing out in the cold and rain and a covered market is important if this important tradition is to survive.

G JONES, Upper Arley