HOW sad to read the small-minded criticisms of the recent European market by Messrs Kirkpatrick and Ridgeway.
I thoroughly enjoyed the event, and the great range of produce available. I would like to second the comments made by the Market Reeve and Cllr Keane.
This is just the sort of event Tavistock needs and local traders are sure to have benefited as well due to increased visitor numbers.
It is a pity to see such a vibrant and successful event being criticised for reasons of such distasteful xenophobia and quasi-racism.
I?m sure these petty carpings are not representative of the town as a whole.
So thanks for the market Tavistock Council and vive l?entente!
D Griffin
15 Buddle Close
Tavistock
MR Ridgeway?s and Mr Kirkpatrick?s letters decrying the presence of French market stalls in the Square are disappointedly indicative of a rather narrow minded and parochial attitude, fortunately more rarely encountered today.
While not endorsing everything that our elected representatives enact, the recent markets and anything that fosters better international links whether commercially or culturally has to be welcome.
Who knows, such markets might actually draw more of the buying public into the town and certainly enhance the undoubted attractiveness of Tavistock.
Moreover an analysis of prices would suggest that the goods are not cheap, quite the contrary, and no trade restrictions were ever to the benefit of the customer.
Nor is this a one way traffic. Those who have worked or travelled the world will probably have encountered or participated in the many ?British Weeks? overseas sponsored by the Embassies, the British Council and the Chambers of Commerce.
Let us have less of the knocking the foreigner for his enterprise and try to ensure that Albion ceases to merit the epithet ?pervidious?.
There is a view that the Goose Fayre is not what it used to be; I cannot say but give me French market stalls any day!
Colin Sansom
Kings Tenement
Townlake