IN last week's Times you reported on the smoking ban that Tavistock Town Council had imposed on its staff within certain areas of the Pannier Market precinct.

It appears that this report has been misinterpreted by some readers and I would like this opportunity to correct their understanding.

Following a letter of complaint from one trader from the East End Stores, the council debated smoking in an area close to this.

I have long considered that it is inappropriate in any business to have staff openly smoking in the close vicinity of their work as this is open to misinterpretation by some and therefore I proposed that the council should ban staff smoking in particular areas and make available to them an area which is suitable for their needs and which does not detract in any way from our operations. I believe this policy is correct for any business these days.

I am aware that one enterprise in the East End Stores, the Pound Shop, has suffered some complaints and others were concerned that, by association, there could be adverse effects on their business operations as a result of readers believing that they have requested the ban.

As I do not wish them to suffer any loss as a result of my proposal I wish to make it clear that at no time have they made such a complaint to the council and I wish them every success.

Tavistock Town Cllr Brian A A Trew

Independent

South Ward

I WAS incensed to read the article (Times, June 9) 'No go for smokers in market precinct'.

The article followed a recent town council and stated that the decision was made after issues raised by East End store owners — it was written by one shop owner and we are disappointed to find it reported as a collective. This is factually incorrect.

The minutes of the council meeting will be available online shortly at http://www.tavistock.gov.uk">www.tavistock.gov.uk and it should then clear up any misunderstanding over where the complaint originated.

In the meantime, we wish to formally put on record that we have no issue with any smokers in the precinct. Indeed, the staff members who smoke around the perimeter have directed customers to our door.

Val O'Neill, Val's Around-a-Pound

Janet Mashford, Tavistock Recycled Computer and

Training