THE vision of a future Salisbury, as reported and pictured in the Salisbury Journal (July 30), is very likely to remain just that – a dream.

It puts me in mind of other envisioned projects such as that which became the road to nowhere which cost as much to knock down (after many years) as it did to build.

In fairness, we all need dreams but such a dream as this for Salisbury is very likely to remain “Pie in the sky”.

It unfortunately relies on too many outside imponderables such as persuading somebody that a top rate hotel in the Maltings will be viable; persuading high tech companies (who supply Porton and Boscombe Down) to move to Churchfields, a site which is always going to have transportation problems (unless the once dreamed of bridge over the meadows to Harnham becomes a reality).

I am not sure what such high- tech firms might be doing on what is envisaged as a mixed commercial/residential site – it might not be a good mix.

I notice that tax breaks might be offered to encourage regional offices of such firms to locate A vision of the future for Salisbury, or just a dream?

within the Churchfields environs – that is OK but, are we, the long suffering tax payers, going to help cover that loss to the local (or national?) revenue.

I rather like ‘the hope’ that the proposed hotel would benefit from being within walking distance of a “High Value Medieval Retail Centre”. That sounds to me like a salesman’s pitch and leaves lots to the imagination as to what it actually will be.

Then we are to have an enhanced “edgy” arts quarter with a refreshed City Hall and Playhouse which certainly need refreshing but what the rest of the “edgy” will be is anyone’s guess given that we don’t even have funding for our current Arts Centre.

Sorry to be a damp squib - but I fear it will not easily happen.

What is needed is ‘evolution’ of the city a ‘revolution is unlikely to happen. KEEP DREAMING!

BRIAN FORD Salisbury