I SUPPORT the use of Crown Street, St Ives, by buses for two reasons (The Hunts Post, April 2). First, as Stagecoach s local managing director makes clear, it would speed up buses and remove them from the congestion in East Street and The Quadrant at busy

I SUPPORT the use of Crown Street, St Ives, by buses for two reasons (The Hunts Post, April 2).

First, as Stagecoach's local managing director makes clear, it would speed up buses and remove them from the congestion in East Street and The Quadrant at busy times.

I would disagree with him that it could not be made to work on market days. There is room in Market Hill for both buses and the existing market stalls. On Monday April 7 there were over a dozen traders' vans parked and locked up in Market Hill. Move them out into the parking areas provided and there will be room.

Secondly, I believe it would open up the Broadway and encourage people to shop there. At the moment, retail in that area is in steep decline but, I believe that, if there were a bus stop there, it would allow people either to get off there and make their way to board at the bus station or vice versa.

When the construction of Northstowe gets under way, but before significant retail facilities are built, with the coming of the guided bus linking that development with St. Ives, there would be a very real opportunity for the town to offer an attractive alternative to the crowded city of Cambridge for both shopping and leisure.

JOHN HOLMES

Waveney Road

St Ives