MELISSA Dean (Fan of Mahfouz, March 26) must be suffering from a form of selective communication disorder. She refers to the SEC meeting in February - she must have been the only person there who was 'impressed by Labour's Bassam Mahfouz, who[2026] made more valid points than his[2026] rivals'.
Everyone else drew a completely different conclusion and the majority specifically noted that the local Conservative candidate, Angie Bray, was the most clearly spoken with positive proposals for the future based on her existing achievements.
That point corrected, I do agree with Ms Dean about the growth of 'the lower-end of the market shops'. Sadly, however, Ms Dean does not understand that the major reason for this is the extraordinary levels of business rates - a tax set by the current Labour government and nothing to do with the council. We all do our best to support local businesses so they can survive such a punitive regime.
PATRICK CHAPMAN via email
