Franks staff Terri Benson and Gillian Self

• IF there were monarch’s medals for staff of a shop surely they would go to all those who worked at Franks in Queen’s Crescent, (Family-run Queen’s Crescent store Franks to ‘close’ after 72 years, August 9).

It had  the most fantastic range of goods to meet the needs of its wide diverse range of customers at prices well below those of its competitors.

Its presence has also done much to maintain the footfall in the Crescent following the near collapse of what was, three years ago, a flourishing street market run by a local community organisation.

The Council’s total mismanagement of the market over the last three years has been a blow to all local residents who valued it. The number of stalls has declined by over 80 per cent.

Fortunately Franks are moving to a smaller shop close by. Hopefully it will be sufficient to prevent further decline in the Crescent.

A central feature of the market is its contribution to social cohesion. This is so important in our area with its rich diversity of residents.

The Council consultation report way back in May 2016 identified the regeneration of the Crescent as the number one priority. Alas the report seems to have been consigned to the waste paper basket.

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