I WRITE in reply to a letter in your pages last week regarding a wool stall in St Helens Market.

Firstly, there are two stalls in the market that sell wool and your correspondent does not stipulate which stall she is accusing. However, some points do need clearing up.

Her time of arrival she states as 4.50pm. During the period 4.45pm to 5pm there are certain tasks that need to be carried out. Tills cashed up, the stall tidied, shutters to pull down, the floor mopped and when the latter is done, due to Health and Safety reasons, people would not be left to walk around inside the stall in case of slipping.

Your correspondent also seems to have the opinion that we are in the business of turning people away. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are a retail outlet that relies on customers and, as the weekly figures will tell you, a successful one which provides a vital service to people of all ages and all walks of life.

In closing, two other subjects I believe need addressing.

What a pity this lady is not around the stall I manage at opening time. Because customers are regularly waiting for me, this means the stall is usually open before 9am. But then, in retail it's got to be give and take.

St Helens Market Worker (name and address supplied).

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