IN response to correspondent Mr P. Morland (Letters, December 12), I have to say that councillors have always sought to protect our corporate assets and most would agree that the market is now a better place to work and to shop than just a few years ago.

I must remind him that it was a decision by councillors to modernise the market in the face of dismal warnings that trade would suffer, that shoppers would never return and that the vision of an open market would be destroyed. Thankfully the decision was taken against this "expert" advice and the market has indeed flourished.

So as you can see, I am equally determined to protect the council's investment as well as provide a good living for the market traders.

COUN JOHN BYRNE,

leader of the council.