IT is with genuine disappointment that I read Conservative Councillor Peter Baillie's letter Blunt Message to Shops (August 27) and that he should choose to call my honesty into question, and suggest I start by looking in a mirror.

All I said in the In My View article as don't let convenience stores die.

Why do local politicians feel the need to go for each others throat all the time?

As for Cllr Baillie's suggestion of me having a spell in a letter writing-free monastery - in your dreams!

COUNCILLOR DON THOMAS, Labour member for Coxford, Southampton City Council.