IRENE SCAWN, of Market Square, Dartmouth, writes:

For me, last Friday was a sad day not one for a celebration ceremony and should surely have been one of contrition by our town councillors. With the refurbishment of the market, another jewel of Dartmouth's antiquity has gone forever like the old jail, stocks, Jaw-bones etc.

What other shocks are our councillors considering? Demolition of the Guildhall, parking on Bayard's Cove perhaps?

Whether our mayor or his deputy attended was a matter of protocol and the importance of the mayor's other engagement but if a plaque was going to be erected with either name, will they in the future recall their civic function with pride or embarrassment? Time will tell.

Apart from reducing the antiquity of our market, another bitter pill is the cost involved – more than £400,000 has been quoted.

One proposal seemed to me quite sensible – the replacement of damaged garage doors with shop frontage in Charles Street. They are still in situ however.

Two cafes within the precinct seems to me to be unnecessary and unfair to the long-established ones in the town.

With the market saga ended, I look forward to the town council's less controversial plans for Dartmouth's future – much needs their attention.