AT LAST someone is speaking out against the May Fair.

As manager of one of Hereford's premier stores Martin Woodhouse is motivated by commercial success not just for his own company, but also for the city centre. He sees the May Fair for what it is - a loud and vulgar anachronism and a gross distortion of the original fair permitted under ancient charter.

Perhaps he can see the fair in a different light from locals because he doesn't have the baggage of history and debate clouding his judgement. He can see the reality not the hype and emotion.

Mr Boswell, on the other hand, peddles out words likes special traditions' and panache' and says the fair has never had problems before'. This despite the disruption caused to the city by noise, damage and hygiene issues every year, as well as making our existing traffic congestion even worse.

The time has surely come for this nonsense to end by moving the fair to a new location more suited to the monster rides and machines being shoe-horned into the city centre.

If Hereford really wants to compete with other locations in the region, as a centre of excellence for shoppers and visitors, it should cherish and protect its assets and look to the future not the past.

ALAN COOKE, Carey.