Arresting the decline

I am quite impressed by the video of the new University building at Anglesea Road. It is well located at the heart of the university campus which is helping to fill the declining city centre.

The futuristic style of the building will help to establish Portsmouth’s ‘brand image’ as a progressive city with advanced technology and design standards.

Most old ‘high street’ shopping centres are dying relics of the 20th century.

The demise of the big department stores has left huge holes which will take a long time to fill with alternative uses such as flats, and for a new trendy city centre buzz to develop.

At least in Portsmouth the centre is being developed for hotels and student accommodation, even if it looks like a forest of tower blocks.

But Portsmouth has a lot of potential to develop its distinctive architectural and historical character. But it requires a determined ‘conservation’ vision.

Tree-lined walkways, cycle tracks and boulevards linking urban green spaces and waterfronts are what Portsmouth needs, not cramming in thousands more homes and increased traffic.

The city must be linked and integrated. We should not be pushing nature out (as at the Tipner ‘super-peninsula’) but learning to conserve and celebrate nature. ‘Beauty and the environment’ are the new watchwords.

Portsmouth should be an attractive environmental city that showcases its great historic legacy.

Jerry Bamforth Sennen Place, Port Solent