MY OPINION that the recent changes to the layout of the centre of Cirencester are excellent and for the common good was confirmed by the huge success of May Day. Hordes of people were in the town centre.  Hundreds congregated in the pedestrian area in front of the Parish Church, enjoying the market and the live entertainment. The shops and places of refreshment were thronged. 

I wonder if this success has changed the minds of any of those who, in your letters columns, have complained about the changes. Those complainants have objected on personal grounds. The continuing theme has been, ‘Consider me and those like me. It takes me longer to get from A to B. I can’t drive my car where and when I would like to drive it. I can’t park my car where and when I would like to park it.’

One of the latest complaints is that disabled drivers are forbidden to drive down Cricklade Street.That is only partly true. A blue badge driver may drive down Cricklade Street and park there save during the hours of restriction (9.30am-4.30pm, Monday to Saturday) when it is a pedestrian zone. So, for example, such a driver could legally park outside a shop at say 9am or 4.30pm but many of them prefer to drive down Cricklade Street illegally in the middle of the day, causing a danger and inconvenience to pedestrians, who have an exclusive right to be there. 

None of those objectors to the changes has put forward an argument based on detriment to the community as a whole. I think it sad that these objectors think only of themselves and disregard the benefit to the populace generally. 

Perhaps if several of the designated parking spaces in the Market Place were reserved for the disabled, this would placate some objectors.

JOHN HODGSON

Cirencester