More need for car park than shops (From Salisbury Journal)

More need for car park than shops

11:55am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Letters

IF I am to believe what I have read/heard, the Maltings is to have an exchange of parking for more shopping. I have to say that in my view this will be disastrous for the city.

Shopping as we have known it for years is going the way of farriers and candlemakers – there’s still use for a few, but not many. We hear in the last few days of the number of retailers going bust, and we all know of the number of empty shops. The last thing we need is more shops – there just isn’t the spare cash to spend in them.

It is being replaced as you well know by online shopping – where there is complete comfort, a much bigger range than any retailer could carry, and above all, time saving.

What would make me come into the city more? I’m sure that if I were to spend the day there working, I’d use the park and ride. But just to nip in and get a haircut, that’s not practical. If I’m to go in for any shortish period (lunch, theatre, shopping etc), I must be able to park easily – otherwise I stay away.

The public consultation gave the Vision a mandate to improve Southampton Road, and to provide a public transport interchange – for which the only practical place that I know of is the central car park.

There was a resounding ‘no’ to developing the city car parks – why is it being allowed to go ahead?

ALASTAIR LACK, Coombe Bissett