I read with interest the coverage given in the Evesham Journal over the defeat of John Smith in the Wychavon District Council elections (May 14).

He blames the replacement bridge fiasco and "trouble-makers" in the town for his defeat.

While I know nothing of the latter, I have to say the way the bridge closure was handled had a devastating effect on businesses in the town.

Speaking as one of those who were forced to close their business after 12 years trading in Evesham as sales halved from the moment the work started, it would have come as a major surprise to me if he had been re-elected.

Despite repeated assurances that the contractors would be compensating the council for the delays, there were equally strong messages coming from the council and Mr Smith that any such compensation would be used to improve the town and definitely not to help the independent retailers who bore the brunt of the pain and were offered no tangible support through the chaos.

Maybe a lesson will be learnt and it may not be too late for the council to re-consider making some financial recompense to those businesses which were able to weather the storm as a goodwill gesture. However, I very much doubt it!

Stuart Brown

Bretforton