Letter: If only Market Drayton had looked ahead in 1261

Letter: Market Drayton was always going to be one of the most vulnerable market towns. Its population was too small to guarantee its survival as the traditional retail centre for the surrounding area.

It lacked the more obvious visitor attractions of Bridgnorth, Church Stretton or Ludlow. The Potteries, which were the main source of visitors, have not fared well. Market Drayton has been the victim of three fatal mistakes.

The first a crack-brained one-way system-cum-half-baked pedestrianisation scheme, rejected by townspeople in a referendum but imposed by arrogant experts. This ripped the heart out of the square. Taking away the five minutes' pop-in parking closed the first food shop which undermined others. The downwards spiral began here.

The second was the decision to move the market to the far edge of town, freeing space for Safeway, now Morrisons. It was obvious it would be inconvenient to combine patronising specialist shops with parking at the supermarket. Town centre footfall fell dramatically.

Finally there was a fatal lack of foresight. Some of us pointed out a market day, Wednesday, chosen 750 years ago, might not be the answer today.

Keith Pybus

Craven Arms