I WOULD like to respond to David Brawn’s reply to my letter of 15 August, regarding the proposed refurbishment of the Upper High Street.

As I now live just a tenminute walk from the town centre, I go there often and am aware of the shops at the far end of the High Streeet – which I have always classed as Marlborough Street – including your bike shop, which I am glad is doing well.

I have often eaten in the restaurants at that end of town with friends and family, and we used the fish and chip shop when it was the Top Shop.

I was a regular customer at the fabric shop, which is sadly no longer there.

However, in my letter I was actually referring to the area of the Upper High Street between Marks and Spencer and what used to be Carr’s Corner.

In that area many longestablished shops have gone, including Fosters menswear, two shoe shops, a very good dry cleaners and Harvey’s sweet shop, having been replaced with a large number of cafes and charity shops.

The only menswear shop in Andover now is Burtons, plus a small selection in Marks and Spencer.

On the plus side, we have a good music shop, Stringbrokers, over yet another coffee shop, Blue Onion.

However, that is the only plus I can think of, and many Andover residents agree with me, as mine is not the first letter on the subject – I was agreeing with previous correspondents!

I also wish the best of luck to local businesses in the pop-up shops, one of whom is my own daughter-in-law, the proprietor of Charlie’s in London Street.

Irene Williams, Heath Vale, Andover.