SO another trader (Hot Chocology) has been forced to close their shop in the Covered Market (August 19).

It appears to me that the city council’s intention by forcing this outrageous rent rise is to attract shops of a certain calibre, or do they want to force everyone out to make way for yet more student accommodation, as there are several influential colleges a mere stone’s throw from this prestigious site?

Every time I have visited the Covered Market it does not appear to have changed and would appear not to have had a great deal of maintenance over the years.

Perhaps Councillor Colin Cook, who holds the grand title of “executive board member for city development” would care to tell the populace if any of this money is used for the upkeep of the market.

I was also surprised by the comment from Chris Farren, of the Covered Market Traders’ Association, who states: ”If they can’t make money they have to get out.”

I believe what he really meant to say was – ‘If they can’t make money the city council forces them out’ but I expect this would be considered as an inappropriate comment? I thought you were supposed to be helping the traders, Chris.

In my opinion, Oxford City Council and this scandalous rent rise amount to nothing more than legalised theft, something the council appears to be good at, just ask anyone who has family members in care and who are deprived of 80-90 per cent of their pension weekly for the privilege of staying in one of these so-called care homes.

RAY HOLTON, Kingsclere Road, Bicester