I WAS rather surprised by the comments from Nigel Hedges, the President of the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, when he says “I remember when empty shops were unknown”. In 1969, I started my career in estate agency, first with a firm in Ringwood, then eight years in Bournemouth with another. Later on my own at New Milton and back home here in Burley.

There have always been empty shops for sale or to let, throughout that time!

RICHARD GRANT, (now retired), Bisterne Close, Burley