…The first is from a Salisbury Vision press release about plans to cut down the trees in the Market Place.

“In order that the works can be completed for summer 2012, in time for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic Torch relay, the project needs to start on site in January 2012. The works cannot start directly after these events, in the late summer... [so otherwise] …the earliest a start can be made is in January 2013.

"It’s quite possible that by this time the opportunity for this investment will have been lost, as limited funds may be directed to other projects.”

The second is from this week’s Journal report of a recent emotionally charged SV meeting. “Chairman Sir Christopher Benson said there was no longer such urgency for work on the square’s refurbishment to begin, since the Olympic Torch Relay and the Salisbury International Arts Festival launch night were now unlikely to be staged there in the summer.

‘If we don’t have to start work in January, we have more time to examine things in really serious detail,’ said Sir Christopher. ‘If people can’t be convinced that the trees need to be felled, there must be another solution.’”

These contradictory statements sum up everything that’s wrong with this entire miserable project. The first combines the oldest sales-pressure in the world (hurry, this offer must end soon) with the civil service fear that if money isn’t spent now it will disappear. And the second implies that until now SV’s daft proposals haven’t been studied “in really serious detail".

Hopefully when they are two conclusions will be reached: first that the existing Market Place ain’t broke and don’t need fixing, and Wiltshire Council should indeed re-direct its cash into other, more deserving projects. And secondly that Salisbury Vision should postpone this and the Central Car Park plan and instead concentrate their efforts on sorting out the Churchfields problem.

Seen the Playhouse production of Way Upstream yet?

… We went last week, and it is very, very good. The designers have carefully made the water-tank set big enough for the boat not to look too small to comfortably accommodate two couples.

The lighting and sound effects are splendid. We felt the second half could have been cut by 10 minutes, but all things considered it was superb value for money.

In the West End you’d have paid £70 apiece for front-row seats; here - in a production every bit as professional - they cost £12. We are so lucky in having The Playhouse here.

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