WE moved into Royston three-and-a-half years ago attracted by its small market town character, its location and its easy access to Cambridge, London and other neighbouring towns. Although we are basically happy here, I have on numerous occasions been prom

WE moved into Royston three-and-a-half years ago attracted by its small market town character, its location and its easy access to Cambridge, London and other neighbouring towns.

Although we are basically happy here, I have on numerous occasions been prompted by what I read in the local press to put pen to paper and voice an opinion.

The prompt, however, has obviously not been strong enough - until now.

The local press has consistently, week by week, chronicled the demise of the town that so recently attracted us here. A sample of what we have read about includes:

- Tesco doubling in size;

- A High Street in dire decline;

- The decommissioning of public loos at Fish Hill bus station;

- Vastly increased parking charges in the town centre.

And the one that really prompts me to write is the new "single-storey" building being built on what was the Johnson Matthey football field.

The road in which I live is primarily lined with late-Victorian and early- Edwardian brick built homes, typical of that period.

What a pleasure to turn in from Old North Road to the welcoming stretch leading to our own front door. Until, that is, this week.

The skyline to the westerly end of the road is disappearing due to a monstrous steel structure of the new JM building that is now under construction.

Not only is our skyline disappearing, but because of its size, location and structure, it is causing both visual and communication problems for residents.

All right, we have lost some skyline, but others will be losing thousands of pounds on the values of their houses.

What deranged planning authority would grant planning permission for such an eyesore and a blight on the residents? Why are we to witness official and complete and utter capitulation to two commercial bodies in the town, Tesco and JM's, at the expense of residents and traders alike?

Surely, the needs of people are no longer a primary motive.

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