There is no going back – it’s too late

WITH reference to the ongoing correspondence about Royston town centre, there is now no going back, it is too late. Whether you call them town or district councillors, they are responsible for the decline of this small market town. It was the lack of for

WITH reference to the ongoing correspondence about Royston town centre, there is now no going back, it is too late.

Whether you call them town or district councillors, they are responsible for the decline of this small market town.

It was the lack of foresight by these people on what effect allowing a Tesco to open a store so close to a town the size of Royston, when there is a huge store only a few miles away in Baldock, let alone Stevenage.

And then, how was it that Tesco was allowed to expand to its current size, when, I understand, the original planning was only to sell green groceries. Thus killing other outlets in the town.

No doubt, as a business, Tesco is providing a fantastic service to the consumer, but in the right places.

I dread to think what the town is going to be like in the next five-six years, or sooner. Completely empty of retail shops?

You only have to look at all the empty buildings now, with no hope of any other business's moving in. And I know of many more who will not be renewing their leases in the coming months.

Yes, I appreciate that many shops are a bit shabby, behind the times, not "open all hours", not the best choice of stock, but would you invest in the future when there is NO future for Royston.

And what another stupid situation. We have a market twice-a-week to bring in customers, only for the market stalls to take up a good proportion of the hard-to-come-by parking spaces.

Why can't we have all the stalls up the High Street and free parking on market days?

Whoever is at fault, Royston is in serious decline. Something must be done now.

COLIN ODELL

Echo Hill

Royston