SIR — I see that the debate relating to the appearance of a Brixham fishmonger on Minehead Farmers' Market rumbles on.

The concept of a farmers' market was sold to the people and retailers of Minehead on the basis that it would be for local producers only, would help to reduce food miles and would boost the local economy.

A fishmonger is not a producer but merely a trader who has had no hand in the production of his wares.

When questioned, he was unable to say whether or not his stock comes from sustainable sources nor by what method his fish was caught.

By no stretch of the imagination can Brixham be described as local. His profit is taken back to Brixham and he makes no tangible contribution to the local economy.

Our local fishmonger's shop on the other hand sells locally farmed fish, the produce of local smokeries and fish sustainably line caught along our own coast.

He has to supplement this by fish bought in from wholesalers but essentially his is a local operation with food miles kept to a minimum.

He pays full business rates and as a member of the local community his modest profit is recirculated in West Somerset.

The Brixham man is allowed to park his large brightly signwritten van in a prominent position at the end of the market. He has already spawned two copycat advertisers who park signwritten vans on the approaches to Minehead.

What would happen if all the farmers' market traders parked their vans in similar fashion?

The Brixham man is allowed to display a growing selection of large A-boards at a time when the town council is trying to crack down on retailers who have small boards outside their shops.

Presumably, as he is allowed A-boards, all the other market traders are entitled to display similar boards.

One has to ask whether this man is taking the mickey out of the district council or is that council taking the mickey out of us?

John Dixon,

Periton Road,

Minehead.