SIR - It was with some

surprise that I read your

article about the new idea

that was put forward to

rejuvenate the Oban Mart.

As shareholders, we were

not informed of who was

bidding for the running of

the mart.

It makes no sense to

me that UA has recently

refurbished the Dalmally site,

only to start running another

a few miles up the road.

So, which one is going to

get the chop?

Another question – is the

auction a fair way of selling

cattle and sheep? Should

those that buy be restricted

to, say, two numbers?

I was at a sale where 2000

lambs were on offer, there

was one dealer, but he was

using 10 numbers, so the

competition was between

one man and the auctioneer.

It was a day of poor prices.

But all that is coming

to a head – poor prices,

exploitation, age, no more

subsidy, who in his right

mind would want to keep

livestock, that ties you

down, 365 days of the year.

Whereas if one could keep

one sheep, claim your LFASS

and supplement from the

social security system, even

get money to go on holiday

Angus A Macdonald

Balivanich,

Benbecula.