Thank you for publishing the excellent articles written on our restaurant by Karen Hoy and Jan Melrose (The Argus, April 15 and 22) which were instrumental in bringing to people's attention the injustice and the losses which our business and our staff have suffered, and continue to suffer, through no fault of our own.

Many thanks also to Councillor Jeane Lepper who, with the support of the city councillors present, and Ian Denyer, the licensing officer concerned, at the licensing committee meeting of Thursday, April 20, redressed the injustice by permitting us to replace part of our tables and chairs in East Street pedestrianised square, as we have done for 15 years.

Our councillors, the local community and our customers fully support our belief that the setting up of our tables and chairs in our square/piazza creates a buzzing festive and happy atmosphere which contributes to attracting many tourists to the area.

It is not true our restaurant furniture impedes the access or conceals the vacant shop to let at 35 East Street.

In fact, it is the reality of our seasonal weekend marketplace which forbids sensible operators to take on high rents for small retail shops which are now in the wrong location.

This has become more pronounced since Hanningtons closed down and many businesses moved over to Churchill Square and, later, Jubilee Street.

Like many in the town, our business has suffered lean winters and crippling financial losses. If we don't get the full use of the square space to recover some of our losses as soon as possible, we will be lucky if we survive next winter.

-Romano E Taverna, on behalf of Al Forno restaurant's customers and staff