APPROXIMATELY 18 months ago a long-awaited plan to invigorate the centre of Cirencester finally commenced.

The plan (according to Mr Tubb of Cirencester Town Council) was to attract more people to the town.

Work commenced, months of disruption ensued and finally it was finished. (Behind schedule I might add due to the lack of workmen.)

The aims of the town council were as follows:
1. Attract more people to Cirencester
2. Pedestrianize the area by the Church
3. Change the traffic flow in the town
4. Provide more parking
5. Replace all the roads with multi paving.

The reality is that fewer people are coming into Cirencester. 
Shops which used to be busy until they ill-advisedly made Castle Street one way, such as The Nutrition Centre and its lovely staff and even Whiddetts in Cricklade Street, which has been proudly serving the town for 35 years, are sadly being forced to close.

As for the parking, well there are less spaces than before, allied to the fact that there are huge swarms of traffic wardens doling out parking tickets daily. Where is the surplus of free parking that they have in other towns and cities?

The newly-laid roads are uneven. The workmanship is shoddy and the drains weren’t done properly and have to be redone. The pavements are the same colour as the roads with numerous people tripping up daily. Two ambulances were called to A&E within 15 minutes of each other recently due to this.

Oh, and the builders have gone bust. I wonder why?!

As for disabled bays, well there are some in the Forum car park but if you are badly disabled it might well be a cardiac job for them to get to the centre of town. 

Provision for taxis is ludicrous. Two measly poorly-marked bays by the King’s Head and two more at the very dangerous entrance and exit to the Forum car park is all they have. Their earnings have dropped like a stone. Why you might ask? Less people coming into town.

The traffic system is confusing, numerous close shaves and people have actually been knocked down. 

The only morsel of success is the pedestrianised bit by the church, as when the market is on it looks really nice. As for the rest, what a total unmitigated disaster for the town.

So, hats off to you Mr Tubb and the planning committee and the guy from Bristol who devised and authorised this.

STEVE ROSE
Cirencester