The so-called "Civic Area" is not a focal point most of the time because it is just an empty space with nothing on it. The present abortive layout of our market has gained no favour from local people. I hope the Lib-Dems revert to the more sensible layout of a square market inside The Market Square. This layout is traditional for a very good reason: it suited the Square itself. It looks right in my opinion.
The Liberal Democrats are the new faces on the block and we can only hope that they will be willing to listen to what the people of Northampton want, rather than dictate to us what we will get.
It is a great failing of many councils that they never take free advice from people of great experience who are on the spot, but are willing to call in some inflated consultants at great expense, who know and care nothing about what they are doing and the effects their actions will have on people's livelihoods.
New Labour and Conservative councils in the recent past have brought our town centre to a pale shadow of the bustling place we used to know, so may I end by saying "The future's bright, the future's orange". The honeymoon is over.
Chronicle & Echo, 03/07/2007.
