Stadium scheme should be better

The Kent County Cricket ground at St Lawrence is a considerable draw for our city, and I’ve enjoyed a number of events there. However, I agree with the Canterbury Heritage Design Forum that the plans put forward for the revamp of the stadium are somewhat uninspired [‘Green light for stadium plan’, Gazette February 9].

It’s true Old Dover Road benefits from a variety of architectural styles, but in considering the merits of the club’s amended scheme, it’s a shame we weren’t able to push for better – rather we’re left with just good enough. There’s a balance to be struck for residents who experience some noise and disruption from events at the ground. In considering the contribution the ground makes to the area, could the architects not have considered a more distinctive vernacular in the rebuild of such an important amenity?

Also, the government’s own rules on voter ID – and what you can and can’t bring along to a polling station - are a farce. They are a clear attempt at voter suppression, dressed up in language that’s clearly intended to mislead people into thinking a problem exists when it really doesn’t [‘Fears new rule on voter ID will hit polls turnout’, Gazette February 9]

If I were enrolled at any one of Canterbury’s universities I’d have my age and date of birth fully verified with a card - just like my parents did with the bus passes they’ve just become eligible for. Yet while the latter’s perfectly allowable at a polling station, for some reason student ID isn’t seen as proof of who you are. That’s outrageous in a supposed democracy. Our council staff now have a more complex task on polling day in dealing with the democratic rights of people who have genuinely forgotten to bring ID, or just haven’t clocked they need it.

Unless people without driving licences and passports have applied for the government voter ID certificate, a postal vote becomes a more attractive option for anyone wanting to vote.

Paul Prentice

Labour candidate for Barton ward

How the entrance to the Spitfire cricket ground is expected to look following the revamp