I do not echo Paul Stephenson OBE's sentiment regarding the slave trade and Edward Colston's part in it, particularly since it took place before the socialist revolution of the Victorian age.

I would, however, support his desire to change the name of the Colston Hall as visitors' to the city cannot understand the Bristolian pronunciation of 'Colson 'al' when being given directions to the place.

Why can't it be renamed Bristol Concert Centre and while they are about it – rename the Council House to something like County Hall as I am sick of having to explain to visitors that the Council House is not a place where Bristol's homeless are housed in opulence.

Mrs A Essex,

Henleaze.

It is typical of the Race Relations Industry spokesman, Paul Stephenson, to make a racial issue out of a proud Bristol event, viz the opening of the Colston Hall foyer.

This is the sort of situation that makes a lot of Bristolians quietly simmer with anger. He always has to find new ways of milking every situation to promote his views. Come on Mr Stephenson, slavery is long gone. Move on.

Martin Jefferd,

By email.

Here we go again. (Paul Stephenson's letter in the Post on Tuesday, June 16).

I am fed up hearing about what happened in the 18th century regarding the slave trade. For goodness sake, let's not keep on about it. Look at the present day – we are certainly doing enough to compensate for that period in time – we now have 30,000 Somalians living here in Bristol; obviously not all working. So who is paying for their living accommodation, day to day existence, etc?

We have been through it all before; a lot of the black slaves were sold into slavery by their own race.

Do the English harp on about the atrocities the Romans carried out when they invaded us?

On the subject of Colston, please leave our history alone – I am proud to be Bristolian and I certainly do not need Mr Stephenson to tell me what our city should be doing. I was educated in the Fifties and Colston was a great part of our history lessons. Let the past remain in the past and stop bleating about the ethnic minority citizens. If you were in another country, whether you were black or white your criticisms and moans would not be given the time of day.

Carolyn Smythe,

By email.

Dear sir, how ungrateful can a person be? A man and his wife are invited to a showcase opening evening of the Bristol Colston Hall and is reaction is to complain, he and his wife are the only ethnic minority people there.

Then he starts banging on about the slave trade and Edward Colston – events that happened over two hundred years ago. Get a life Mr Stephenson. The country's going down the tubes, and I would have thought you could have brought to this paper a subject for this century – not one two hundred years old.

Kevin Hill,

By email