Sir – Each year in early September I find myself scratching my head and wondering why the local authorities allow the centre of our beautiful city to be taken over by a so-called “traditional fair”.

Who does this benefit? Certainly not shoppers, tourists, businesses and people who work in the area around St Giles. The “fair” has major effects on traffic and bus routes.

I suspect the only real beneficiaries of Oxford city centre being shut down for days are those who run the various “fairground attractions” who, no doubt, particularly enjoy their annual chance to make large profits from the Oxford public through their overpriced stalls with cheap and tawdry prizes.

Richard Bowen, Oxford