The news Knees are leaving the centre of Trowbridge has certainly shaken many, not only in the town but in west Wiltshire and beyond. Over the years, we have been able to purchase just about everything from dining room furniture to potato peelers, and similar memories are shared by many others. Sadly, this unique service will soon be gone and the question must now be ‘What next’? Have Knees fully taken into consideration the loyalty of so many long standing customers and dedicated staff?

They are not just a store in the middle of town; more an institution we thought would never go. Perhaps, before taking such drastic action, some thought could have been given to downsizing the main store and letting parts to other retailers, rather than moving lock, stock and barrel to the Spitfire Retail Park. Is it too late for the existing electrical store to be retained with the homeware, china and garden departments resited there? In this way, Knees would remain a prime store, countless customers would be satisfied and, hopefully, jobs now under threat could be saved.

Sadly, the alternative to a now pleasant walk down Fore Street or through The Shires will be a journey out of town, ending at a considerably smaller building, completely without character.

Public transport is available, but this would mean a hazardous walk, with danger to life and limb, along the access road to the retail park and then across car parks to and from the nearest bus stop. A non-starter for many.

The claim has also been made that there is adequate parking – and to some extent this is true – but only, particularly at peak times, before queueing to get in and then competing with other stores, such as Curry’s, for available spaces.

Doubtless Marcus Holbrow and his management team have carried considerable research before coming to this decision. Only time will tell, but hopefully for them the growing fear being increasingly expressed that Knees have shot themselves in the foot will be unfounded.

They might, however, be reminded of the number of national stores that have come and gone from the Spitfire and adjoining retail parks in the last few years.

Stanley H Jones, Horse Road, Hilperton Marsh, Trowbridge.