Investment is key to improvements

THE strong feelings about Royston town centre as seen in Postbag, indicate a real affection and concern for the future of our town.

Though hardly a long-term resident, I arrived here 20 years ago. The random choice of Royston as a place to live is frightening now in these days of internet research and endless TV property programmes.

The only restrictions for us were the usual ones of budget and commuter services.

We were a family of four, and coming from Kent, knew nobody in the area, so our choice of location was a real shot in the dark.

At the time we had no thought of still being here in 20 years time.

But we have all come to love Royston, warts and all. Even our children, who seemed not to have a good word to say for the place throughout their teenage years, would be horrified if we moved.

It has never been fashionable, and is far from glamorous, but it does have in its small market town identity, Therfield heath, accessible countryside, a railway station with a good service, an excellent public library, and a lively leisure centre.

It also has a few good independent shops - increasingly rare in today's cloned town centres.

However, it does have more than its fair share of charity shops, and the market is a sad affair these days.

So I am writing to support Jane Wesley's suggestion (Postbag October 25) about the urgent need for a Marks & Spencer, Simply Food or a Waitrose in the town centre, both to break Tesco's stranglehold, and to act as a catalyst to save Royston.

This would be wonderful, though does seem a bit of a pipedream, as I'm sure both companies would not find Royston an economically viable proposition.

Failing this, radical improvement to the market would help enormously, as, of course, would reduced parking charges.

Royston certainly needs some major investment in its future if it is not to become another dormitory town.

DIANE GLANVILLE

Royston