B Dickman, of Clarence Street, Dartmouth, writes:

Further to your recent article about the Regatta and the problems it may create for some local businesses, especially caterers; I went round the gardens and funfair and counted 32 different refreshment stalls and with the big tent in Coronation Park the overall figure must have been closer to 40!

Then I went to my usual cafe in the Old Market where I found I was pratically their only customer. There is something wrong here.

These stallholders are only here for a week, then they're off to another event after that. Our local cafes and restaurants rely on the Regatta crowds to tide them over the lean months and to give them all this competition when they are struggling to survive is very unfair in my opinion. Surely they deserve some loyalty from the Regatta organisers.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Regatta, especially moaning about the grockles etc, not to mention the 'beer swilling dross!'