LETTER: ‘Development of the Barton Road car park in Ely is clearly in the wrong location’
The proposed development at Barton Road car park Ely is clearly in the wrong location for a number of reasons.
In particular the blocking of the wonderful open views of the cathedral and surrounding area which make our city so famous as well as loss of the ability to increase the number of parking spaces in the future.
The Barton Road car and coach park is essential for easy pedestrian access to the city centre and should be retained in its entirety for its intended purpose.
On busy days most spaces are taken by 10am, therefore East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) could redesign the entire car park to increase the number of spaces to help encourage more people to visit Ely and enjoy all it has to offer.
The plan with the proposed development demonstrates part of this very well.
The ECDC should be doubling their efforts to encourage more footfall in support of Ely in general and the faithful number of city and market retailers in particular.
Clearly this can only be achieved by providing additional accessible parking of cars and coaches within very close proximity to the city centre.
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The proposed development is misguided and if allowed to proceed could be likened by future generations, to the building of the current retail monstrosity at the side of the Market Square following the demolition of the wonderful Corn Exchange in the 1960s.
What do the planners have up their sleeves next, the redevelopment of the entire car park?
PHILIP & RUTH SINDALL
Via email