Letters: No need for Lymington Quay ‘re-energising’

SIR — I grew up in Lymington and am writing in response to the Lymington and Pennington Town Council’s advertisement in relation to the current Town Quay public consultation in last week’s paper, and your article about the quay in the previous issue.

The quay doesn’t need to be re-energised. The space literally heaves with people – boating, crabbing, shopping, eating or drinking in one of the pubs, restaurants or coffee shops, or simply just sitting and experiencing the great ambience of the space. It is full of vitality now. It works.

I and many other residents and businesses on the quay support the idea of enhancing the area generally. Refurbishing or rebuilding the existing toilet block on its present site also makes sense. Architecturally, the toilet block now closes off the quay space, effectively creating a well-proportioned, three-sided square with the fourth side opening out to the river.

However, removing the parking could be a mistake, leading to:

· a reduction in visitor numbers, prejudicing the viability of the local shops

· more parking in the surrounding streets

· loss of access for many who cannot negotiate the steep cobbles on Quay Hill, and

· loss of car parking revenue

The quay has much improved over the last 15-20 years and now offers a good quality mix of eating, drinking and shopping. The short stay car park is an essential factor in the success of all these establishments. In turn, the vibrancy of the pubs and restaurants makes the place busier and safer at night.

The quay already operates in the same multifunctional way as a French square: events on certain days, car parking at all other times, just like the High Street, the market on Saturday, events occasionally, car parking at all other times. It all works.

So to the council I would simply say: enhance the quay – yes, please. New toilet block in the same place – yes, please. Events – yes, please, as often as you like.

But keep all the parking. Take it away and you will lose a lot of the people. Take away the people and you will lose the ambience and the shops. Lose the shops, and you’ve lost the positive impact on the local economy you aim to achieve.

John Bishop,

Lymington