AT last there is some movement on The Maltings redevelopment. The developers and supporters of the plan have my sympathy. Since it was first mooted the retail market has changed dramatically and large shops have closed or relocated out of the centre. Salisbury has been deluged with restaurants, hair salons and nail bars. It is hard to imagine how the newly created spaces can be used without detrimentally changing the current centres of shopping in the Market Square, the High Street and the George Mall.

A new cinema and hotel could work but I am sorry to see that the library is threatened with a move.

My concern is the fact that the coach park is planned to become housing. How that space – and the swimming pool car park – were ever included in the parcel of land called The Maltings worries me. The loss of the coach park where much vital tourist income arrives will, in my opinion, have serious consequences. Annually thousands of coaches bringing visitors go to the 'invisible' coach park. The visitors have a safe and convenient walk to the city. If the coach park is built on the coaches will travel into the heart of the city, unload and then drive out to park, only to return to a pick-up point later in the day. These double movements in the already busy medieval streets could cause more gridlock in the summer. There is a danger that coach companies will drop Salisbury from their itinerary, visitor numbers will fall and all those new shops, cafes and restaurants will have no customers.

I hope that the planning application – when it appears – will show support for Salisbury's Tourist economy by retaining and even enhancing the coach park on its present site.

John Cutland

Wilton