YOU know me. I’m an optimist.

Somewhat battered by experience, maybe, but unbowed. And ultimately hopeful that the future will get better.

Otherwise I wouldn’t carry on bothering my head, and yours, about stuff all the time.

But surely it’s stretching credulity to think that work will begin on the Maltings revamp next May, as has been reported?

If planning applications are due to be submitted in December, Wiltshire Council must be working on the assumption that no one will raise any objections to them. And that would be a first for Salisbury, where folk rightly take a close interest in any changes proposed to their city centre (Market Place trees, anyone? Tourist info centre?).

Otherwise that timescale just doesn’t sound practicable to me. I hope I’m wrong.

Anyway, I do rather like the artist’s impression of the newly glamorous Market Walk with its curved glass roof. So here’s wishing it success in attracting retail tenants. Whenever.

I’d love to see someone other than chain stores in there, but I don’t suppose it’ll be within financial reach for independent traders. Can anyone tell me who’ll be setting the rents?

On the subject of chains, the same applies to restaurants. If we’re going to have more (how many times a week can I eat out?!) is there any way some of these premises could be set aside for local entrepreneurs rather than the same names we see in every cloned town centre, half of which are now running into the same trouble as the big store groups?

These eateries will feature in what’s being grandly called a Cultural Quarter, along with a spanking new seven-screen cinema, and many people will welcome that.

But I can see no way that our dear old Odeon will survive in its present form. Ah well, they say you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs, don’t they? (I’m determined to avoid being accused yet again of ‘talking down’ Salisbury just because I raise a few uncomfortable points.)

Maybe we could have a public competition to come up with a different use for it? And for what used to be BHS?

One of the best things to come out of the rethink for the whole central car park/Maltings area seems to me to be the greater emphasis on housing.

Long ago I suggested it would be an ideal location for retirement flats, being a short, level walk from all the necessary amenities. Now, though, Messrs McCarthy & Stone seem to have snapped up half the city centre, so we probably don’t need any more.

I know! How about some truly affordable housing for young people and families? Or is that a bit revolutionary for Salisbury?

Not profitable enough?

Another good idea comes from tourism body VisitWiltshire, which is seeking our opinions on what’s best about living and working here, to inform the worldwide rebranding campaign.

At last, at least, someone’s interested in what Joe Public (is there a female version, and if not, why not?) thinks.

So I encourage you to take part. Go to salisburybrandpositioning.co.uk

anneriddle36@gmail.com