Janice Payne, of Lancaster Street, Doe Lea, Chesterfield, writes:

As a visitor to Dartmouth at least twice a year for well over 20 years – my husband even sings in the church choir on our visits – the regatta is one of our main draws, but no longer. There is no air show to speak of.

So instead of spending at least three full days – I usually arrive before 8am to ensure town ­parking, as I am ­disabled – during which time we have breakfast, lunch and dinner each day in town, as well as shopping – and not just the regatta village and market etc – sadly we will now be ­visiting Sidmouth Regatta and may stay there for a few days, thus depriving Dartmouth of much-needed income.

Reading the Chronicle – I subscribe online – I am ­distressed and upset at the shortsightedness of many of the regatta committee and indeed many of the ‘big wigs’ of Dartmouth.

Tourism is the lifeblood of this town, and like it or not, without us tourists the town and its many small businesses would soon be bankrupt – a lack of customers in winter proves this point.

I don’t just write as a tourist, my husband spent his childhood in the South Hams, hence our regular returns, but the draws are fading fast and it appears the town is being allowed to slowly die.

Without the regatta income, which is needed to sustain ­businesses through the winter months, there will be more charity shops, shops closing down, jobs going, young people moving out to find work etc.