MAYBE it’s time for a reality check. Forget the political wrangling, forget the ‘get rich quick’ attitude of the many that has helped get us into this mess and get back to a period of level-headed, honest trading and service.

To get Britain back on its feet, there are many options to take up and consider, they have been well versed in the media and include what the Labour Government wants us all to do, which is to spend, spend, spend or merely and merrily to ‘bury our heads in the sand’ like some of the Opposition parties seem to favour as a solution.

The town centres are dying everywhere, ours is continually being criticised. The large chains of major household name shops are not the complete answer to retail any more, closures tell the story. Councils and governments must help to encourage any small business looking to set up. We cannot keep units, markets and other business premises empty by setting too high a rent and preventing the seeds of commerce from growth, can we?

Every unit that the council have on their assets list should be offered out to tender as a means of bringing in some rental fees, and those wishing to apply for a lease need to be encouraged. Where are those who help new business, they could be the catalyst?

Redundancy, itself, can be a new beginning for those who have such ambitions. New traders should not be excluded because they do not have a well-known High Street name, but those traders able to show commitment to give good service to the public in what they sell and the service they can provide. It is just that, a public service, these people ought to be subsidised, government and council regulations relaxed and free rental and taxation periods for new start-ups the norm.

Time to create an open market once again, get back to a thriving town centre, it will lift morale and show positives, not negatives as we have today.

PAUL MORSE Cheney Manor Road Swindon