The need is to work towards same goal

WITH reference to Mr Downing's letter (Crow Postbag, November 8), I cannot believe that he believes it's that simple.

I do not like the way Royston town centre is going either, but the blame lies at more doors than the town council - an entirely voluntary group of people who give their own time to help improve the town.

If they don't care, don't you think they simply wouldn't turn up?

The problems go a lot deeper. For a start there are the shopkeepers themselves.

It is rare that anything I need can be purchased in the shops in the town. When there is, they are already shut by the time I leave work (6pm), and with the lack of any late night shopping - even for one day of the week, I am forced to go into Cambridge.

Many of the shops in the town are shabby, and have not even had a new lick of paint for years. There is one shop in particular which has not even added the figure 2 to the phone number listed on the front - an addition that came in more than 10 years ago.

Furthermore, blame must also lay at the feet of the landlords who control the rents and contracts of the town centre.

I know of more than one shop that has moved out of the High Street as landlords have prevented them moving to larger and more suitable premises, and are forced to look elsewhere.

With regards to car parks, I'm sure that if Mr Downing has read The Crow at all on a regular basis, he will have seen the town council's long-term attempts to have the car parking charges lowered or wavered by North Herts District Council, the authority with the control of the car parks.

Lastly, with regards to planning applications, these are also approved or denied at district council level.

Only when all parties are acting towards the same goal will we be able to turn around the town centre.

PAUL HARRISON

Highlands

Royston