Last updated 13:26, Thursday, 03 July 2008

I HAVE just attended the Hexham Mart Function Suite to see what the outcome would be for the Prudhoe redevelopment proposal, and have to say how very disappointed I was by the way in which it was firstly conducted and by the scant regard for the public and business interests of the town, currently.

Centre of controversy: The artist’s impression of the proposed redevelopment in Prudhoe town centre.

As a trader in Prudhoe for the past six years, and a person born and bred within the town, I and ‘some’ other traders fought a valiant battle with the bigwigs with plenty money to keep throwing at this money spinner.

Traders would meet after a hard day’s graft to devise plans on how best to put the true feelings of the town, i.e. the public, and those who serve the town, the traders.

We have always tried to fairly represent the proposals, and as it became clearer what was to happen, we alerted the public as best we could. Otherwise certain criteria would not have been met.

Some things we won or deferred for consultation, others we lost – including the whole proposal, despite two years of constant to-ing and fro-ing to meetings and planners.

I can honestly say a great injustice has been bestowed yet again on the town, and I fear the greatest barrier we faced was the apathy within the town, by people not voicing their say. Whether as a member of the public or trader, they have allowed an outside influence to decide the fate of our town.

How are we to fight such carbuncles being instituted into our community, if the community won’t stand up and be counted?

Now we are faced with huge road infrastructure problems, as well as over- population. The misguided view of town planners that 20 per cent affordable housing is better than nothing on a ‘greenfield site’ has set a precedent for the developers to encroach our greenfield/greenbelt land within Tynedale.

As for my business, which is situated just off Neale Street, and only 18 feet from the developers’ grasp, yet only recognised as on the periphery; anyone who has lived on a building site will know mud and dirt travels.

My only entrance into the building will be compromised and made a no-go area for potential customers, or made such a minefield as they build the access road for Sainsbury’s delivery vehicles, that I will not be able to trade.

The vibration alone from building work and traffic disturbance could cause the IT side of the business not to function correctly. With no recognition of this and a lease I’m contracted into, I face bankruptcy which will have a lasting effect for years to come.

As the diggers trundle down our linear Front Street, who will survive the onslaught of traffic congestion, noise, dirt and lack of trade for an estimated three years?

With no magic wand and no offer of contingency for the existing traders, I fear our town will be an unrecognisable shadow of itself when it emerges from the chrysalis of regeneration, with some of its much-loved and respected retailers gone in the tidal wave of progress.

RACHEL SMITH,

Photosmith,

Front Street,

Prudhoe