There is a need for voluntary sector in town strategy

I AM sorry to read that Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire is having to move out of Royston because it is unable to find suitable premises in the town. I agree with Cllr Lindsay Davidson (Postbag, February 21) that planners should address the nee

I AM sorry to read that Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire is having to move out of Royston because it is unable to find suitable premises in the town.

I agree with Cllr Lindsay Davidson (Postbag, February 21) that "planners should address the needs of voluntary organisations within their development plans".

I find it disappointing that there is no mention in the draft Royston town centre strategy of the importance of maintaining and encouraging a thriving voluntary sector in Royston.

This is despite the fact that the fifth key aim of the strategy is "to develop the town centre's role as the focus for civic and social life".

There is no acknowledgement in the draft strategy that the civic centre site houses voluntary organisations such as the CAB, and that there are others, such as the Volunteer Centre, which is located on the edge of town.

The Volunteer Centre has tried to find premises in the town centre but has been hampered by the requirement that ground-floor premises in the High Street are for retail use only.

Royston's voluntary organisations deserve to be housed in well-designed, accessible, affordable buildings so that they can play a full part in the revitalisation of the town centre.

SYLVIA DAINTREY, Chair, Volunteer Centre Royston & District