I have lived in Ludlow for nearly ten years, and whilst I love the town and the surrounding countryside, it is about time that the rose-tinted view of the town re-stated in your article is exploded for the myth that it largely is.

History, heritage and listed buildings, yes. But have you walked round the town and taken a long hard look at the decay and dereliction affecting many of the historic buildings – which now even extends to Broad Street. In particular the upper floors of many commercial properties lie empty and unused, mouldering into decay. These locations would make ideal locations for conversions into flats, but is anything done about this? Er, no. And the housing market isn’t strong, its stagnant, whatever local estate agents may try and claim to the contrary – well they would, wouldn’ they.

And of course now we have one of the main routes into the town severed because of the neglect of a medieval bridge, which has been closed to all traffic for the next few months. That apart, another street in the centre of the town, the very one pictured in your article, is to be closed off for emergency repairs to a listed building the facade of which is about to, if nothing is done, part company with the rest of the building , and fall into the street. Neither their owners nor the local authority seem to be doing much to safeguard the heritage of the town, despite it being what draws many visitors here in the first place.

As for Ludlow being a “culinary capital” and its gastronomic reputation, what reputation? Not a string, but a couple of ludicrously over priced restaurants – with which most of those of us resident here in the town don’t bother. The same is true of the Food and Drink Festival. It’s for the tourists; locals avoid it like the plague.

As for the shops, those which serve a local need comprise a mere handful – butchers, bakers, chemists, a couple of shops selling vegetables, and two independent bookshops – but as for the last for how much longer? After all, you can get books much cheaper and faster through Amazon.

There are of course the two supermarkets – but those – including the inevitable Tesco – can be found in any town. The rest of the shopping on offer consists of outlets catering for the tourists; selling high priced clothing, nicknacks and tat. Fine for the visitor, but of no earthly use to residents. There are also far too many charity shops – the number of these could and should be halved

Then of course we have the problems of binge drinking – there are a couple of town centre pubs which should be closed down. Oh, did I mention the persistent vandalism, graffiti, dog fouling, and litter?

Yes, John Betjeman may well have considered Ludlow to be “The most perfect town in England” but he was viewing it through rose tinted spectacles.

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