It reminds me of the film It's a Wonderful Life, where James Stewart is running through the town and sees how it's lost its heart and soul through greed.

I last came to see the Mercian Regiment parading through town and when I went into the Market Place I remarked to my family that it was good of the council to clear all the stalls away ready. They said that was now the total market! I was just stunned. I read about the decline of the market but it was pitiful to see. We visited Chesterfield too and the comparison was beyond belief.

I am actually writing about the letter in Chad about parking at King's Mill. I was disgusted when I went there. ONE POUND FIFTY an hour to park? That's when you can find a space. It's obscene. If they're spending all those millions of pounds to build a new hospital why doesn't it occur to anyone to build a multi-storey car park at the same time? £1.50 an hour is a lot of money for some people to find. It's only going to be a worse problem once the new hospital is open.
Also, I thought it was a no smoking site? As you turn in on the road they share with Morrisons the first thing you see is student nurses smoking on the pavement.

Just beyond Morrisons you see more nurses hiding behind trees smoking - wearing their uniforms! Not only must this be an infection risk but think of the poorly patients having a nurse leaning over them reeking like a stale ash tray.

It either is or it isn't a No Smoking site. Why isn't it policed?
In fairness, I must say that the march of the regiment was magnificent and made me proud to be back to salute them. I left Mansfield this time feeling proud yet deflated - and wondering what I'll see next time I come back!

MR W. AMORY,
Mangotsfield, Bristol.