The article on Fairtrade Fortnight highlighted the success in Knebworth and noticeably Hitchin. Where was Letchworth Garden City? As the Heritage Foundation continues with plans to revamp the town centre is there any room for Fairtrade shopping? The repl

The article on Fairtrade Fortnight highlighted the success in Knebworth and noticeably Hitchin. Where was Letchworth Garden City?

As the Heritage Foundation continues with plans to revamp the town centre is there any room for Fairtrade shopping? The reply to my question on the same subject to Stuart Kenny in December 2005 was, I confess we have no specific plans for Fairtrade traders: we merely want to secure the types of shops most of our customers want. If this re-vamp goes ahead, would it not be an ideal way to promote the world's First Garden City as being not just green but ethically aware. The Fairtrade shop on the corner of The Wynd is very good and well worth a visit, doing a good trade, but I wonder if this will go the way of many independent outlets after the honeymoon period of reasonable overheads expires?

This is a great opportunity for Letchworth Garden City to move forward and improve its own particular identity - we cannot be another Hitchin or Stevenage - but we can continue to attract international interest, by showing how we can be green and fair.

PAULINE STILGES, Letchworth Garden City