I FEEL I must reply to the two letters complaining about our annual fair in Redditch town centre (Advertiser, September 24).

Firstly, in reply to Mr Farley's letter regarding the parking for specially adapted vehicles. When the town centre was made a pedestrian area some 20 years ago the area, which is now used for specially adapted vehicles, was always occupied by our fairground equipment as part of the carnival celebrations.

My family, together with the council, has always given disabled drivers every consideration. Each year for the visit of the fair we make alternative parking available for them.

To inform people of this we provided not "one tatty sign" but four information signs in the disabled bays and also the entrance to Peakman Street and I also placed an information advert in the Advertiser prior to the fair. We recognise the need for disabled parking and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

In reply to the letter from Mr Tegg, it is worth noting that when the market occupied Church Green for two years, the market traders gave way to the long-standing annual tradition of the fair in the third week in September without complaint.

The reason the fair seems to dwarf the town centre is because in the 1960s my family gave Redditch Council the largest open area in the town centre in order to build and develop the centre we have today.

No money changed hands in this deal but it was agreed the council would always allow the fair in the town centre in the third week in September.

The families who attend the annual fair are not interlopers but long-standing Redditch families such as the Wilsons, Harveys and Dobsons, families who helped build this town.

Although the carnival no longer exists, my fair raised more than £2,000 for local charities again this year.

No one forces us to donate this money but it is given from the heart.

As for the rides being "too big, too high and too gaudy," perhaps he should ask some of the younger people of the town if they are big, high or gaudy enough.

This fair has been a part of Redditch since the 17th century and if Mr Tegg doesn't want his views spoilt by the fair, then I suggest next year he books his holidays for the third week in September or helps form the carnival committee so that he can put something back into the town that he feels so strongly about.

TOMMY WILSON

Marlfield Lane

Lakeside