I AM dismayed to read letters in the press which portray Bishop Auckland as yesterday’s town with a declining high street and many shops closing.

It is true that some of the retail outlets have ceased trading, but most of these were part of national chains which have encountered difficult times.

On the other hand, the Market Place is undergoing a renaissance with some of the buildings being converted into museums and art galleries. A new hotel is planned. Along with the developments at Auckland Castle, these improvements should encourage tourists to visit the town.

The signs of growth can already be seen. New high class tea shops have been opened and a visitors centre is being built. Other specialist shops will be established in the future.

Also, far from being detrimental to Bishop Auckland, the new retail park at St Helens Auckland is an example of an extremely successful enterprise. It is always crowded and attracts shoppers from all over the North-East.

Many local people are employed there.

With all of these new developments, Bishop Auckland can look forward to a promising future. It is not yesterday’s town, but tomorrow’s tourist destination.

Andrew Dowson, Bishop Auckland