The long and winding road

I NOTE that the county council has left some piles of grey concrete blocks in Rushden High Street, and thoughtfully painted white lines on the road so that we may navigate without grazing our shins and elbows.

I wonder, are these for use on some building project?

On the whole, I preferred the area with a line of motor cars on each side.

They were varied, colourful and, occasionally, mobile.

BRIAN COX 1 Hind Stile, Higham Ferrers

THIS morning is the first time I've paid a visit to Rushden High Street with its new pedestrian zone.

I have never seen anything so ugly and such a waste of money.

I saw at least three cars and a moped drive through the no-go area. The traffic at the top of College Street, near the Rose and Crown, was in chaos. Worst of all, in my opinion, were the cars coming down Queen Street into the High Street. Because there is no through traffic, drivers are turning into the High Street without slowing down. I saw one lady having to run out of the way of an oncoming car.

How this can be progress is beyond me.

D A JONES (Mrs) 48 Wymington Road, Rushden.

We need the support of our shoppers

MUCH has been written about Rushden's High Street.

The derelict Co-operative site has created an atmosphere that is no longer welcoming to visitors from out of town.

The county council has decreed that the community of Rushden wish to have the present pedestrianisation scheme, although they concede that the Chamber of Trade has been totally opposed to it. Most of the traders are local people dependent on the community for their livelihood. We are battling against recession, high business rates and rents, and now pedestrianisation.

Please support your local shops and let us hope that at the end of the year we can all pull together to overcome the present problems.

JEAN M WILLS President
Rushden and Higham Ferrers of Chamber of Trade