Do-least option best for St Ives

HAVING carefully considered the proposals put forward by HDC for St Ives town centre improvements, I support the many and varied objections to Options 1 and 2 voiced by residents at the open meeting held on November 20. Furthermore, I object to the unwarr

HAVING carefully considered the proposals put forward by HDC for St Ives town centre improvements, I support the many and varied objections to Options 1 and 2 voiced by residents at the open meeting held on November 20.

Furthermore, I object to the unwarranted expenditure of £1million-plus, when Option 3, with minor amendments at a cost of approximately £50,000, is all that is necessary.

It was stated by the HDC representative at the outset that the pavement width is not acceptable for a 'modern' town centre. Well, St Ives isn't a 'modern' town centre, and that is its attraction to residents and visitors alike. In my experience, the pavements are perfectly adequate except when shopkeepers' and stallholders' displays encroach on them. The relevant authority should discourage this practice.

The proposed public open space in front of the church in Options 1 and 4 (the Piazza Plan) is ill conceived and unnecessary. There is already a perfectly adequate public open space, with trees, outside Budgens, on the sunny side of the square.

I am opposed to the elimination of one loading bay in Bridge Street to make way for café tables and chairs, as essential traffic movements are difficult enough there already.

In no circumstances should buses be allowed to run through the town centre, on safety grounds.

IAN PENFOLD

Kingsbrook

St Ives