Investment

Your article regarding the proposed redevelopment of Worthingtons is the sort of news I never thought I would hear.It's about time we saw some investment in the High Street, we've all been moaning about how Portishead is expanding without the facilities improving. Well this is an opportunity to keep the High Street the focal point of the town, I only hope this will put pressure on other businesses in the High Street to think about what improvements can be made to their businesses. When you look at Bristol's Broadmead, they have not been scared in realising to keep business thriving, investment has to be made and with that change, what a change they are making, even changing the name (which is something we could think about).People seem to think we have a Victorian High Street. If you look, I mean look properly (you have plenty of time to look, whilst sat in traffic jams because of the new Cabstand layout) you see the High Street is a mix match of buildings some Victorian and many not.The council has no concerns for the Victorian architecture along the High Street. Only recently they allowed St Peter's school to be demolished and replaced by a retirement complex, and more recently, the Victorian engine shed just off the High Street was demolished, to again be replaced by another retirement complex. With all the development around, the old Portishead as we knew it, doesn't exist anymore. We have to move on.This could be the start, let's bring the High Street forward into the 21st century, let's have some decent shops which can cope with the huge influx of extra residents, and keep Portishead alive.John Hitchcock - Via e-mail