Sir – Your Comment column (Worcester News, August 29) emphasised the plight reported by the Co-operative Group of shops facing their worst trading conditions for 40 years.
Is this surprising when they have nothing but rate increases, but never reductions?
City car parking charges are no help.
At 90p an hour, rising to £6 a day, or £1.20 an hour rising to £10 a day depending where one parks, is it surprising if drivers go to trading estates where parking is free and customer service usually very good?
This is 2011 and people insist on travelling in their chariots whatever the cost.
They are never likely to revert to a non-reliable bus service which is becoming even more depleted.
Buy local, of course, whenever possible, or your local butcher and baker, just like the candlestick maker, will disappear for good.
Phil Pegler
Worcester
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