Last week s Journal (Thursday, January 21) reported that town centre management, planners and police, have all objected to yet another alchohol-selling store in The Strand.

Last week's Journal (Thursday, January 21) reported that town centre management, planners and police, have all objected to yet another alchohol-selling store in The Strand.

I would have thought decent residents can't be that pleased about it, either.

What planet was the Labour government on when they thought that this country could be converted to a 'European caf� culture society', by expanding the licensing hours.

Perhaps they were thinking about all the extra tax revenue to be gained, and even more, now they hope to set a minimum price per alchohol-unit, thereby penalising the 'old-school' sensible drinking fraternity.

If anyone has chanced upon viewing "Night Cops" on one of the Freeview digital channels like Sky 3, they would be shocked and disgusted to witness local police having to deal with drunken, abusive, loud-mouth yobs of both sexes, in an around Exmouth's town centre. (Yes, the familiar shops and streets were all recognisable, even up in Reading - itself not immune!).

Is this how The Strand redevelopment will attract visitors, or will they be dissuaded from such "no-go" areas late evenings, regrettably not unique these days, as many other resorts and cities shown in the programme unfortunately experience similar events, which were never of the same magnitude more than 60 years ago.

Stephen Derek (former resident),

138 Fairford Road,

Tilehurst.