It is disgusting what Oxford City Council is doing to the Oxford Covered Market, Rental crisis grips market (Oxford Mail, April 16).

What is it trying to do by increasing some of the traders' rents by between 50 per cent and more than 100 per cent?

Has it an ulterior motive, such as forcing traders out, then redeveloping the site and spoiling Oxford even more?

This has been a market place for almost 250 years.

Whenever I go into the Covered Market, I often look up at the timber roof and it appears that the woodwork hasn't had a lick of paint for many years.

It seems the council doesn't spend much on the building.

MICHAEL CLARKE Lewell Avenue Old Marston Oxford