Tivoli MADAM - Like many others faced with the never-ending task of keeping one of Cheltenham's aging Regency houses standing up , I was delighted to hear that Tivoli Trading will continue in business with the same staff under its new owners , Dunton Plc .sx Customers can expect excellent advice and service at 'Tivoli,' as well as all those odds and ends that cannot be found elsewhere - a very different experience to shopping in the DIY supermarkets .sx Tivoli Trading is a shop that Cheltenham cannot afford to lose .sx Gina Briers , .sx Brookway Road , .sx Charlton Kings .sx Cars also on the paths !sx .sx MADAM - In reply to Dr. Christine Haseler's letter , " Buses for roads , not pavements , " why does she single out buses ?sx In Church Street , Charlton Kings , at any time of day or night , one can observe cars , vans , and lorries regularly driving along the pavements , some at excessive speeds , or parking on them .sx If anyone dares to walk on the pavement , they have to do battle with anything from a mountain bike to a juggernaut .sx The main cause is the 'park anywhere brigade .sx ' Their main targets are bus stops , leaving the free car park almost empty .sx Such is life !sx .sx Name supplied , .sx Charlton Kings .sx Looking forward to the next one !sx .sx MADAM - Three cheers for our councillors who stood firm and refused to be pushed into banning the recent pop concert at Cox's Meadow .sx As residents of Sandford Mill Road , we went to the concert and took our daughter of 2-1/2 .sx The afternoon was most enjoyable :sx the groups in the main were good , the children's entertainers superb , the crowd well-behaved , and the police good-humoured .sx The noise pollution was far less than we habitually suffer when the funfair or donkey-derby is on the meadow .sx Our only moan is that there was no re-admission once we left to put our daughter to bed which meant we couldn't come back for the rest of the show .sx Hopefully , this will be remedied next year when we look forward to a bigger and even better event .sx As for the petition organisers , I hope they took the trouble to attend the event as we did , and saw the enjoyment they were trying to curtail for no valid reason .sx John and Julie Hughes , .sx Sandford Mill Road , .sx Cheltenham .sx A better name for the '12th' .sx MADAM - Surely it is time that the 'Glorious 12th' was renamed the 'disgraceful 12th,' for during the season 1/2-million grouse will be killed , some falling injured , thrashing around until dispatched , others flying away peppered with lead shot to die a slow death .sx J. Mate ( Mrs ) , .sx Broadway Close , .sx Cheltenham .sx Plane facts still in doubt .sx MADAM - The identity of the aircraft on top of Westgate Motor House has long been a source of speculation , particularly among aviation enthusiasts who have only heard about the mysterious pre-war machine .sx Now , at least we have a photo upon which we may ponder .sx The aircraft depicted in the Echo of August 6 is undoubtedly a Fairey Fox but , unfortunately , the actual mark number is not certain as some of the identification features are either missing or obscured .sx Also , it appears to be minus its undercarriage .sx There is a possibility that this may not have been the only machine used by Westgate Motors over the years .sx Perhaps your readers can supply other photographs showing either the reported Avro 504 or Hawker Hart , or De Havilland Moth , all of which have been quoted in recent correspondence .sx Bruce Stait , .sx Mornington Drive , .sx Cheltenham .sx Blazing a Euro trail for county firms .sx MADAM - I read in the Echo that " Firms in Cheltenham are all talk when it comes to gearing up for the Single Market " but are they aware that there is now a centre that can help translate that talk into action ?sx The European Business Information Centre is helping many Gloucestershire companies understand the implications of the Single Market on their business and maximise the increased business opportunities that are being created by a frontier-free Europe .sx The picture is not as black as might be suggested .sx We have more than 100 members and are growing .sx Many local companies are finding that doing business in Europe is very profitable .sx We can help local companies who are seeking agents and distributors in Europe to find new business opportunities , help with understanding Single Market directives , online business information services , undertake translation - in short , anything to do with Europe .sx Supported by the county councils of Gloucestershire and Hereford and Worcester , as well as Gloucestershire and Worcester chambers of commerce , we are only a telephone call away - 0242 261604 .sx A.J. McKinna , Manager , .sx European Business Information Centre , .sx 4 Royal Crescent , .sx Cheltenham .sx Call for diabetes charity helpers .sx MADAM - The Diabetes Foundation urgently needs volunteers in the Cheltenham area to raise funds to find the cure for diabetes .sx There are no management deductions or commission payments whatsoever , neither do we employ fund-raisers .sx A pound raised or donated means a pound spent exclusively on UK diabetic research work .sx In recent months , huge advances have been made and the cure for diabetes is not very far away , but we do need your help now more than ever .sx To keep up-to-date on the latest progress in research , you can join our fast-growing membership ( pounds3 .sx 50 per annum) .sx We work closely with the Diabetic Society to provide a full and comprehensive service to our members and yet foundation administration costs , as defined by the Charity Commission , are less than five per cent of total income .sx We have no connection with any other diabetic charity .sx We also provide a national help-line ( 081-656-5467 ) which is available for advice on all aspects of diabetes .sx Diabetics and the parents of diabetic children can obtain a complimentary copy of our members educational magazine 'Diabetic Life' and details of the foundation by writing to me .sx Ms Emma Aldrich co-ordinator , .sx Diabetes Foundation , .sx 177a Tennison Road , .sx London SE25 5NF .sx Hard to find hotels for coach parties .sx MADAM - I was most interested in your comment " So worthy of a visit " in Friday's Echo and , having been involved in tourism for the last 24 years , I should like to make my own comments .sx From April to October , I run weekly package tours by mini-bus of the Cotswolds .sx I started from scratch and my aim is to take passengers to the lesser-known Cotswold lanes and villages .sx It was not easy in the beginning but I now have a regular clientele , most of whom are from Great Britain , although about five per cent of my customers are from overseas .sx Many clients return year after year .sx My biggest drawback has always been in finding a suitable hotel for the guests .sx You would imagine that any hotel would welcome a nice regular contract for seven people for about 24 weeks of the year , but you would be surprised .sx I have from time to time found such hotels , and the partnership has worked very well .sx But , alas , hotels change hands , or the owners retire , and the new owners are not interested in my business .sx Then I have the difficult task of finding somewhere else and , believe me , it is difficult .sx On several occasions I have gone from one hotel to another , only to be met with " thanks , but no thanks - we are doing very well without you .sx " There have been times when I have seriously considered packing it all in .sx I have on many occasions also found owners of cafes and restaurants around the Cotswolds to be most unbusinesslike .sx Having pre-arranged to bring my party to them I have turned up to find that they have not reserved a table or the place was closed - no apologies - no explanations .sx Very embarrassing for me .sx I must add that not all establishments are like this .sx Anthony J Furber , .sx Cotswold Tours , .sx Christchurch Road , .sx Cheltenham .sx Splash out on the simple things .sx MADAM - According to a recent article in your newspaper , Cheltenham Borough Council is concerned about falling tourism figures .sx Perhaps a simple solution to this problem would be to remedy some of the minor sticking points like ensuring that the main pedestrian access to the Queen's Hotel is kept puddle-free .sx I witnessed two wealthy lady visitors attempting to negotiate large puddles on the pavement in order gain access to the hotel entrance .sx Unless the councillors of our town address the basic errors of judgement demonstrated by previous regimes , visitors will be further deterred and avoid Cheltenham like the plague .sx Forget the grandiose schemes ; get the simple matters right first and , if you cannot do that , go home and let somebody else do the business .sx R.V. Ashman , .sx London Road , .sx Cheltenham .sx Please go easy on the accelerator .sx MADAM - May I first say that I am not usually prone to airing my views and angry feelings in public .sx However , I feel most strongly about the subject of speeding .sx I try to drive at the legal speed limit .sx I am sure that there are occasions when I may overstep the mark , like most people , but especially in built-up areas , I keep my eye on the speedo , and on the look out for any child that might leap out unexpectedly .sx I am sick and tired , to put it very mildly , of other drivers - and , I must say , these are mostly men - obviously in a great hurry to get to their very important destinations and overtaking in a bad-tempered way , revving up and lights flashing usually , maybe with a bit of verbal abuse as well .sx This is such a dangerous thing to do , but how can these people be taught not to do so ?sx Does it have to come to the extreme , where an innocent child falls victim to their harsh impatience ?sx Every child is someone's son or daughter , so please , drivers , think before you push down on that accelerator and ruin many lives .sx In that brief moment , you could maim or kill , and affect for ever the lives of all those concerned with the victim - not to mention that this dreadful act would , where any feeling person is concerned , be etched upon the conscience for ever .sx I do realise that sometimes accidents happen , even though great care has been taken , but why add a greater possibility of grief to an already dangerous situation ?sx We must also realise that these people are breaking the law by overtaking at such speed .sx Lets sic !sx have a little thought and consideration ; we all want to be safe , and want our children to be safe , don't we ?sx Karen Swan , .sx Selkirk Gardens , .sx Pittvill , .sx Cheltenham .sx Reunited , thanks to the Echo .sx MADAM - With reference to the letter " Are you out there , Anne ?sx " ( October 30 ) , the lady writer from Hampshire was trying to contact me on behalf of a mutual friend in New Zealand that lost touch with me years ago .sx I am pleased to say that I have already written to renew contact with my long lost friend .sx Your correspondent , Mrs Enid Smith , certainly did have a lot of information about me and my family that was 'nearly correct' the only error being that I did not , as suggested , leave my husband .sx I am pleased to say that I am still married to Mr Ralph Coombs !sx .sx I am most grateful to you and your paper for putting me back in touch with a friend from over 40 years ago .sx A M Coombs ( Mrs ) , .sx Eldon Road , .sx Cheltenham .sx To build , or not to build .sx MADAM - Why is the Planning Committee in Cheltenham not consistent in its decisions as to whether to grant planning permission or not ?sx Several years ago , the gentleman who lived opposite me applied for permission to build a bungalow in the rear of his garden to enable his elderly aunt to live near him .sx Permission was refused on several grounds , but now , it seems , these reasons do not apply any more as the gentleman in question has since sold the house which has been bought by a builder who intends building a three-bedroom house with double garage in the rear garden .sx Permission for this building has been granted although I and other neighbours objected strongly to the application .sx To provide this intended house with a garden , a small piece of land has to be leased from the council .sx