SIR - With reference to your story (Gazette, April 30), Jacqui aims to bring choice, Mungo's is yet another example of a new, quality venture setting up in Wotton-under-Edge, along with nine others during the past few months.

I agree wholeheartedly with Jacqui Moore who said "Wotton continues to offer unusual goods, personable service all in an attractive market town with a heart that visitors and locals can enjoy" and far from "bland" as described in one of your recent articles.

As a fellow trader I wish Mungo's, Relish, The Market Store, Cotswolds Beds and Blinds, Braidwood, Design's Creative, 7Edge, J C Bathrooms, Delta and The Novel Hovel every success for the future.

The recent closure of The Swan Hotel is indeed a major blow to the town but can be seen as having major potential if change of use is granted. It is obvious something radical has to be done with the property.

We would all like to see The Swan remain and return to its heyday as one of the best hotels and eateries in the area. However, it has tried over many years and failed, market forces cannot be ignored and Mr Walker is attempting to do something about it.

It is a very difficult balancing act: on the one hand we have a businessman willing to invest in a failed business, to create more retail, office space and flats for the town; on the other the need to preserve an important historic building within a conservation area.

It is interesting to note in this context that the majority of Market Street in which The Swan stands was at one time derelict until sympathetically redeveloped comparatively recently by the Woodward brothers.

My fear is that without compromise Wotton is in danger of ending up with a derelict building. It is surely foolhardy to say it has to remain a hotel despite its inability to be commercially viable as such.

If redeveloped sympathetically, this building could offer another new venue for business and much-needed affordable housing in the town.

Carl Rebbeck, Wyecliffe Gallery, Long Stree, Wotton-under-Edge