SIR – As our city planners continue their ongoing quest to revive the city centre, they may wish to note the contrasting fortunes of two major retailers, Woolworths and B&M.

Both these companies addressed the same sector in the market-place, selling a very wide range of popular goods, mainly everyday consumables and hardware, at attractive prices. Yet one of these went bust, while the other goes from strength to strength, now heading for a multi-billion pound stock-market floatation.

The only key difference is that Woolworths occupied legacy town-centre sites (such as in Shipley, pictured), while B&M is usually found with a large, free car-park attached. The customers are not voting with their feet, they’re voting with their wheels.

If planners believe that they can recreate popular retailing in central locations without providing free car-parking, they’re heading for yet another expensive regeneration failure. The lesson is there for all those with eyes to see, but the blinkers need to come off first.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon