Page 5 - Phonebox Magazine April 2010

HAVE YOUR SAY
Letters Dear Editor
This is a copy of the letter sent to Olney Town Council in response to the letter in the March edition of Phonebox.
The letter only deals with dog fouling. I wish to point out that ‘cat fouling’ is a very big problem in the town to garden lovers amongst others. I regularly find that cats leave revolting deposits in my garden. In the process they disturb plants as they scrape up the earth or gravel. Would it be possible for cat owners to supply me with bags for its removal, and bins to be provided for its collection?
Are there any responsible cat owners? The cats are left to roam at will and make use of other people’s gardens, whereas dogs are kept on leads and not exercised in private gardens. There must be a dozen or so cats in the immediate area of my house.
Yours sincerely Olney Resident
(Name and address supplied)
Dear Editor
A Market Trader Replies
I refer to the article ‘Odds ‘n’ sods’ on the Mercury Report page of the February issue of Phonebox, this having been brought to my attention by a concerned resident of Olney.
I feel compelled to endeavour to correct misconceptions that may have arisen in the minds of any residents reading this report.
Most if not all market traders at Olney are sole traders who do not have the luxury of someone else standing in for them when and if they take a holiday. It is, therefore, a properly considered course of action for any trader to decide when to take a break in their work schedule. Any absence from any market means NO income.
Olney Town Council approached the market traders late in November to ask whether or not they wished to attend the last two markets in December as unusually and not since 1998 had Christmas eve and New Years eve fallen on a Thursday. Most but not all said they would attend on Christmas eve and not New Years eve. As a result of this survey Olney Town Council issued the rent invoices for December specifically excluding New Years eve; THEY having made the decision to cancel the market for that day.
It is worth reporting some factors which certainly affected my decision not to attend on New Years eve and I am sure would also have influenced some of my fellow traders:-
1. Many wholesalers do not reopen until the New Year, restocking is not, therefore, possible. 2. The week following Christmas has historically shown poor receipts.
3. I take but one weeks holiday a year, that running up to the New Year.
4. Christmas is traditionally a time for families and market traders also have families.
Finally we are NOT lazy and any and all decisions we make with regard to our attendance at Olney market or any other for that matter are based on economics. If the market fails in Olney it will fail like every other market because, over the years, the public have changed the way they shop. It is as simple as that!!
Councillor Jeremy Everett
Harlington Parish Council, Bedfordshire (and pet supplies Olney market)
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Phonebox Magazine 5