Letter: Market forces

Sir: Your reports on Sir Donald Acheson's inquiry into poverty and ill- health ignore the valuable service provided to many inner-city communities by hundreds of retail markets.

Though it is true that there is a dearth of local shops supplying fresh food at reasonable prices in areas of poor housing, often people need look no further than the regular markets selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to meat, cheese, eggs and other staple foodstuffs at competitive prices. Multi-million pound advertising campaigns by the supermarket chains have misled shoppers into believing that they offer the cheapest and best fresh food, when markets offer a cheaper and wider range of fruit and vegetables.

Wise local authority operators have ensured that their markets are well served by public transport. They offer alternatives to the major retailers and their existence should be cherished.

DAVE FEENY

General Secretary

National Market Traders' Federation

Barnsley, South Yorkshire