BREWIS Gair, of Eastwood Engineering, along with others ( Courant , April 15), needs to wake up himself up to the reality of our economic conditions.

In Hexham, the business identity of the town has changed significantly in the last decade. That and many other factors means that something has to change in our business attitude… nothing stands still.

The BID is a national process on offer which has made it possible for many equally pressed business communities to shift their focus from doing business in a vacuum and taking your chances… to one of co-operation and progress through community development and service to a wider community rather than simply the clientele of one’s own business.

We are all in this together. It is a 21st century realisation.

Yes, it will cost time and money. Yes, it might seem as though it is not democratic. Yes, it may seem painful to do things differently. But for those taking part, a new type of business model appears and everyone eventually can gain.

Do we honestly believe we live in a perfect democracy? Many of our governments have never attained power with real majority support. Nothing ever happened in our history without cost and pain.

Hexham is bigger than all of this bickering. All business owners were approached or invited over the 12 months of development of the BID – I know, I was there.

As usual, though, the usual suspects refuse to listen. Those who did not turn up to the monthly meetings in Hexham, having a chance to take part in the process, made a vote with their feet and now want to bully the rest!

Sorry guys, if you do not take part please do not destroy the whole process for those who want to. Do you love your town, or just yourselves?

MARY RICHARD,

Gaia,

Hexham