Sir.-I read with interest the article on dropping trade in the market in last Wednesday's Basingstoke Extra.

I have to say I predicted this turn of events in June.

What did I base this on? Although I don't think this to be the only reason, I am quite sure part of the cause is the arrival of Asda. Not that I blame Asda - indeed, I personally shop there three or four times a week, previously having always used the market.

It's just so much easier to shop somewhere like Asda. It offers value for money, a very large range of goods - allowing all the shopping to be done in one quick stop - offering easy and free parking, helpful staff who assist if required, and also a park nearby that older children can play in while the shopping is done. Therefore, I now manage to do the shopping much faster.

How can the market hope to compete? The value for money is there and I'm sure most of the stall holders are friendly and helpful, but the rest is out of their hands.

In this day and age when we are all short of time, what is required is fast, efficient one-stop shopping. Most of us do not have time to drive around looking for free parking spaces, the multi-storey is too expensive and far away to be of much use to the market.

Our market needs more than just a few signs as I'm sure we all know it's there.

Free and available parking would be much more beneficial, together with a larger range of stalls. I would urge the council to consider these aspects very carefully when considering plans for the changes to the Top of the Town, otherwise people will continue to vote with their feet and we will lose the market. I'm sure none of us want that to happen.

Leila J Bennett, Portsmouth Crescent, South Ham.