I am writing in response to Emmett Schlueter's letter (Oxford Mail, April 30) regarding the Covered Market rent reviews.

He suggests that the current tenants are deliberately being priced out of the Covered Market by the rent review process in order to make way for a developer to create a hypermarket or supercasino.

I can categorically state that this is not the case. There are no plans to replace any of the current tenants or redevelop the market.

The rent review process is being carried out fairly and transparently, and the council is simply seeking to secure the appropriate level of rental income from the properties in the Covered Market in accordance with the leases signed by both parties.

All the rent review cases have been referred to independent arbitrators to make the final decision, the results of which are binding on the traders and the city council.

The arbitrator's awards on four of the Covered Market rent reviews have now been decided. The settlements vary, and are all at rent levels between those suggested by the council and those offered by the traders. The remaining rent reviews are now under consideration by a separate arbitrator.

Where I agree with Mr Schlueter is that the Covered Market is a primary feature of Oxford life, and this is why the council continues to support it.

JOHN KULASEK, Asset Manager, Oxford City Council