WITH reference to Shirley Burnham's letter printed in the Swindon Advertiser on May 17, I fully support her view that it would be disastrous if Wood Street were to become a ‘daytime desert’. As a trader in Wood Street in the hospitality sector, however, I feel it necessary to respond with a few facts to put her comments into perspective.

Focusing on Wood Street, to the best of my recollection, there have only been three new bars, restaurants or coffee shops opened in the last five years. The Old Bank Brasserie (formerly the Natwest Bank, though occupied briefly by an upmarket gift shop), The Vegas Bar on the upper floors above Mario's Restaurant (formerly offices) and The Pantry in a unit in the arcade. None of these, with the possible exception of The Pantry, has led to a loss of retail space on Wood Street.

Of the empty retail premises, Mooki, formerly Limex Hardware, has been out of use for at least three years, but has only recently been actively marketed. The carpet shop - which interestingly did open briefly some years ago as a bakery which closed due to lack of support - moved next door to the former dance shop and remains empty, despite active marketing. Number Nine closed earlier this year and is being actively marketed. 19-21 Wood Street, which has been empty for the last five years, is to my knowledge the only premises currently under consideration for change of use from empty to a cafe and bistro - open during the day and evenings until 10.30pm. (I have to declare an interest here as I am the applicant for change of use.) The furniture shop, formerly Woodworks, is undergoing renovation and is to re-open within weeks as a furniture shop.

The only two remaining empty properties on Wood Street were, until very recently, estate agents and are both being actively marketed. As they have planning consent for office use, they can be used for retail without any application for change of use.

Where are the “dozens of bars"? Where is the loss of retail? Almost all of the current licensed premises on Wood Street are open during the day at least six days a week, attracting many people to Old Town and, in my experience, not just from Swindon but also from Marlborough, Cirencester and even Devizes.

If retailers thought that opening shops in Wood Street was financially viable and had the support of local people, believe me, they would be here. I know for a fact that all of the property owners on Wood Street are prepared to be very flexible over rents and have no interest in keeping properties empty. The real culprits in the decline of small independent retail business in towns and cities up and down the country are the supermarkets and those who choose to shop in them. I sincerely hope Ms Burnham, and those who agree with her point of view, will continue to support local independent traders who want to provide services for local people and offer them employment.

PHIL SAUNTER Los Gatos Spanish Tapas Bar and Cafe