I WRITE with reference to the sarcastically worded letter (Readers’ Times, April 25) inferring that the independent shops in the “old town” should open on a Sunday.

As a local person running two businesses in Hereford city centre for more than 25 years I can assure Mr Hancorn that should the good people of Hereford and/or our visitors choose to frequent our locally owned and run, independent businesses on a more frequent basis – as opposed to choosing the larger, more financially robust nationals – then I for one, and certainly others, would welcome the trade no matter what day of the week.

I have tried for at least 10 out of 25 years to open my normally busy and popular bistro on a Sunday.

I have tried free live music, barbecues, free coffee deals, private parties, roast dinners and cheap drinks offers, all to no avail. The revenue on a Sunday just does not cover the cost of opening.

All this when large national chains are offering food at prices for which I can’t even buy the ingredients.

Why does your average person choose to drink coffee in a chain with bad PR at prices twice the price of the independent 25 yards away?

At my hotel I persevere with trade on a Sunday. We are reasonably busy at average prices at lunchtime, competing with the £5.99 national roast lunch brigade.

We are, however, much busier after 3pm as we serve food all day whilst many nationals stop at 2.30pm I am pleased that Hereford is spending time and money on developing my city. I wish the new project well.

But please don’t let me have to put up with people saying that I don’t work hard enough.

If local people had supported local businesses over the years they would not have lost the quality and varied independent outlets that have disappeared.

KEVAN GILBERT, The Merton Hotel, Commercial Road, and Gilbies Bar and Bistro, Commercial Street, Hereford.