Can I first fully support all the comments made by Keith Gulliford in last week’s Advertiser (October 27).

I would suggest that the majority of people who live in Romsey moved here because it is a lovely town.

Why then are the Test Valley councillors in Andover always wanting to change it?

Firstly, the Crosfield Hall.

The plan is to knock it down (even though a large amount of tax payers money has recently been spent on repairs and improvements) and build a new hall at the far side of the Rapids.

We are told that there was a Citizens Assembly held in 2019 to decide the future of Romsey. This assembly consisted of 42 citizens out of a population of 21,608.

How many of these 42 citizens were regular users of the Crosfield Hall?

How many people use the Crosfield Hall each week?

How many walk to the Crosfield Hall?

Secondly, Aldi.

The greater area consists of car parks, bus station and a community hall. All of which are used daily and are effective for people coming into the town.

But wait, what is the real reason? Aldi wants a new site and Test Valley want to sell them one just as happened with Waitrose a few years back.

If Aldi wants a bigger store then can I make a suggestion that was presented to the council over 30 years ago.

Enlarge their existing store into their car park and build an elevated roof car park covering the area from Aldi to the Bus Station. This will greatly increase the amount of parking, bring the Bus Station under cover and give first floor access to shops and stores such as Smith Bradbeer which will border the elevated car park.

I feel it is time the people of Romsey had a say in its future (not just 42) however if a questionnaire is produced it should be fair I understand in the past one of the questions was “Do you want a new Hall” not “Do you want a new hall on the far side of the Rapids”.

Romsey stand up and be counted.

Peter Lelyveld,
Cedar Lawn,
Romsey 

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