IN RESPONSE to last week's comments in your publication by the owner of the Royal Pier Hotel.

IN RESPONSE to last weeks' comments in your publication by the owner of the Royal Pier Hotel.

I must say as a resident of the Birnbeck area and one of the traders mentioned, that I fully support his plans for demolition of the hotel and provision of a landmark development on the site.

However what I find harder to swallow is his claim that he has suffered the biggest loss of trade due to the fire.

To the best of my knowledge the hotel ceased trading sometime around November and the fire occurred around June.

So unless the squatters, vandals and druggies were paying rent the only businesses directly affected are myself and the Captains Cabin.

HEATH HARDY

Birnbeck Road, Weston