I should declare an interest here as one of the tenants in the central market square building. Yes, I have a framing workshop in part of the building but it is not solely for the use of the gallery as suggested by Mr Cutter.

Many of your readers have come to me and previously John Gillo, to have their pictures framed. In fact, a commercial framing business has been on this spot for over 20 years serving the town of Dartmouth well. The other commercial tenants also provide a service to the town and regularly pay their rent and insurance to provide a constant revenue stream for the council.

I understand the need for the council to be seen to be occupying an historic building to add gravitas to their deliberations. But a bustling market square with traders coming and going is also as historic as the council themselves and adds a vibrancy to the square as well as trades to the town. Surely it would be a shame that the failure of one business venture should lead to the closure of others?