I read April Lee’s letter (Echo, April 28) concerning the ‘good points’ of Weymouth centre. Then, I had to read it all over again. 

After a second reading, I began to wonder whether this correspondent’s obvious enthusiasm for the delights of Weymouth, and its town centre, is actually describing the same town that I’ve lived in for four decades? It seems not.

Ms Lee waxes lyrical about the ‘ten clothes shops’.

Then, she mentions all the ‘excellent restaurants’ - none of which, I would ever eat in. 

Well, to be honest, I did venture into one of the eateries she mentioned. 

Never again. 

The meal was awful. It gave the impression of being cooked by someone who thought that throwing improperly cooked ingredients onto a plate (which, by the way, was cold when it should have been hot) and dishing it out to customers was a sure fire way to ensure they returned for second helpings.

Just why a small town such as Weymouth would want TEN clothes shops is a mystery. 

However, what Ms Lee fails to mention are all the charity shops which disfigure the town. 

The proliferation of charity shops in any town are, without doubt, a sure sign that it could be entering its death throes if dramatic action is not taken to reverse the trend and bring back a normalised method of trading - unlike charity shops which trade under far different financial trading conditions.

As for the assertion that the town is not ‘dirty or unkempt’, it is when I visit the town centre.

Lastly, there might not be so many beggars in the town now, but I noticed the other day when in the town, that now that the summer is about to begin, the usual seasonal army of alcoholics are beginning to dribble into Weymouth to take up their respective supping alcohol positions. 

Maybe the police will move them on or maybe they won’t? We’ll see.

Andrew Martin
Kitchener Road
Weymouth