Created: 14/7/02: Last Updated: 14/7/02
Releated Story: Kingsway Development Plans

NOT IMPRESSED BY PLANNERS' WAD!

Dear Editor

Many years ago I lived in another part of the north of England, near a canal, which was a quiet, peaceful, beautiful place to be - an oasis in a built up area. Then the powers that be built a road alongside it. The cars roared along it. And the peace was lost forever.

I am absolutely gutted to learn that the same thing might happen in Lancaster. I'm not a planner, I'm not a councillor, and I'm not someone who regards shopping as a fun leisure activity - I have far more interesting things to do with my life. I don't think there's much that human beings need that they can't already buy in Lancaster, and I really can't see why we need another supermarket, another road, and another set of shop units that will stand empty just as they do in the Marketgate development.

Given the recent cinema debacle, I fear that the city fathers and mothers are about to perform their regular trick of handing over the heart of our beautiful city to some tycoon who's impressed them with the size of his wallet. We'll all have to live with whatever ghastly concrete edifices they choose to erect, and the joy of taking a peaceful stroll along the canal will be nothing more than a memory.

Lancaster is a small place - that's one of its many charms. What on earth is the problem with just keeping it that way?

Wistful
Name and address supplied

What do YOU think? Let us know via or take a stand on our community forum