Tell us how the Grid will make city better

12:05pm Friday 31st October 2008

I ATTENDED the Edgar Street Review at the Courtyard Theatre recently, and asked one of the 12 or so councillors present whether he knew how many shops in the city were either empty (paying reduced rates), or occupied by charities (paying no rates). He said he hadn’t a clue.

Mention had been made that “anchor” stores would come in to the Grid, by which I understood that to be well-known names, but again the councillor informed me that there was no contractual obligation, so it was pure “hope value”, and nothing more.

On what basis has the council decided that the Grid would be good for the city?

Have they made a gut decision based on hot air, and are they deliberately ignoring the relevant facts?

Last year I counted 29 shops, 12 charity shops and a sex shop. Now there are 40 empty shops, including Chadds, 11 charity shops and a sex shop. Hardly a sign of prosperity - an increase of roughly 25% and the recession has not really hit yet.

I challenge any councillor to write in to say how he or she feels that the Grid will improve this awful situation.

To me it seems a totally daft idea.

It will disrupt the already dreadful traffic situation for years and we will end up with another ghastly “it could be anywhere” precinct with litter blowing around empty premises.

Come on councillors, do please enlighten me.

M K WAISTELL, Quay Street, Hereford.