May I, through your pages, raise a query regarding piped music in public places?

As at most shopping centres, we have played music, of various kinds, through our malls for more than 10 years.

However, just as we are working on removing cigarette smoke from this centre as a response to customer comment, we have also been running a quiet experiment on removing music from the mall, too.

Since Christmas, there has been no additional music played, other than that coming from individual shops.

So far no-one has commented.

I am intrigued to know if this silence means approval, indifference or simply that it hasn't been noticed.

If customers enjoy background music, what would they prefer?

My own feeling, as a shopper, is that the quiet bustle is welcome other than occasional, seasonally appropriate music. But there are all kinds of options.

We did once try gentle rainfall, but it doubled the usage of our 'conveniences', and birdsong had customers looking for the trapped canaries! We would welcome constructive feedback, and we promise to listen. WENDY WHITE, Centre Manager, Templars Square Shopping Centre, Cowley, Oxford