IT would be good if for once the retailers of the town could work together. Yet in last week's Bury Times we had a letter from Yvonne Wright criticising retailers on The Rock for not wanting to increase footfall to the benefit of our tills - as she would obviously like to do by inviting the fair to Bolton Street.

We are not too concerned about footfall as we have more than we can cope with on a Saturday, and enough to keep us alive the rest of the week (perhaps she would like to move her shop up here and pay our rent and rates). No, we are more concerned about the effect on the environment and the people of Bury with the siting of the fair at this end of town.

Can I ask readers to put themselves in the position of the low-earner parent, or a family with a few children. To be confronted with children's rides each time you come to town, knowing full well that you may be unable to pay out to keep the kids happy, is quite a daunting prospect.

The Rock traders are also concerned about the restricted access for emergency vehicles. It is not unusual for a child to run out to see where the sound of the siren is coming from. If that happens, where is the poor driver supposed to go? Into a shop front or into a ride or stall?

There is also concern about the noise level and pollution for eight hours a day, six days a week. This is far more irritating than the odd hoot of a train at weekend, referred to by Yvonne Wright.

The inconvenience that will be caused to people and to animals visiting Minden medical centre and Armac veterinary surgery, has not been considered properly by the council either. In fact, in our opinion the council sent very misleading letters to the health centre and the Church of England's agents, Dunlop Heywood, regarding the siting and timing of this fair. The planned ripping-up of 18 trees, when Bury Council are otherwise advocating the planting of trees, is rather hypocritical. Bury is now to lose some greenery on an approach to town for the sake of four weeks a year.

Yvonne Wright goes on to talk about the fair she visited in Huddersfield, but fails to compare it to Bury's fair, or say how long it was sited there. As a weekend attraction, it would probably work here as well.

Contrary to what she is trying to imply, we do not have a problem with The Showman's Guild, as we have never had dealings with them. We are in sympathy with them losing their venue, and appreciate that they have to make a living, like the rest of us. This I stated in my last letter.

The fact is, the fair does not belong in the town centre. If Bury Council want to spend £25,000 covering a site for four weeks a year, why do they not spend it on a hard-standing on one of the many acres of spare grassland they own.

As for Yvonne Wright comparing Bury to Wilmslow, I consider that to be disrespectful to Bury. Bury is a far busier town than Wilmslow. It may not have as many millionaires per square foot, but I think the people are more natural and friendly. Or is she trying to insinuate that The Rock traders are snobs? There is nothing snobbish about thinking of other people's needs in place of jingling tills. And yes, we also work for charity . . . it's just that we don't spout off about it all the time.

RON AND KATE ECCLES,

Paraphernalia, The Rock, Bury.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.