Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
City is centre of cultural tourism
All praise to Mr Fitter-harding for his vision of Canterbury as a “global city” [Gazette, front page and pages 8-9, April 21; Letters, April 28 and May 5].
Surely it is time for the city to fulfil its destiny as one of Europe’s centres of cultural tourism? We have one of the world’s finest cathedrals, now beautifully renovated. We have an excellent theatre (Marlowe), and a cinema close by (Curzon).
The Cathedral should be used for concerts (with sponsorship where required - it would be money well spent), and the theatre and cinema could host Shakespeare and Dickens Festivals.
Dickens had a strong connection with the city, which appears in many of his novels, including of course its starring role in the semi-autobiographical David Copperfield. Dickens gave very popular readings from his works - surely some actor could pick up the baton?
The theatre is right next to, and the cinema merely steps away from, the river.
Festival-goers could embark on a punt trip to the newlyrestored Franciscan Gardens for afternoon teas and buffet suppers.
The smaller garden at the back of the theatre (Solly’s Orchard) could be used for interval drinks.
The city could link up with others to offer a world-class cultural experience. What about a “Glory of Gothic” tour, guided by expert lecturers? This could start in Chartres, and go on to Paris (Ste Chappelle), Beauvais, Rouen, Amiens, Canterbury, London (Westminster Abbey), Windsor, Cambridge and York. Some trips could add on extra cities, but Canterbury would act as its central point.
A fly in the ointment? Yes, appalling traffic and pollution, making the Westgate one of northern Europe’s most toxic tourist destinations. When Unesco heritage status was granted, the city should have been given some form of autonomous local government.
At present, the city area includes countryside and coast, and they will always vote for allowing uncontrolled vehicle access to the city.
St Dunstan’s Street, arguably the most historic street in Britain (Westgate, Roper Gateway, as well as historic houses and a church), is in gridlock every time a train closes the level crossing, while the city’s finest garden (Westgate Gardens) is cut off from the city centre by very heavy traffic in St Peter’s Place.
It’s time to revise the 2013 reopening of the Westgate - and Wincheap is another historic street in dire need of some traffic restriction. Other cities have reduced traffic, and we should follow in their footsteps. Brussels has a useful website (“Bruxelles se fait belle/ Brussel maakt zich mooi”) on which anyone can leave comments (in French or Dutch). Their city centre, once notorious for traffic, is now largely pedestrianised.
Why not have a “Canterbury presence” on their website, asking for their advice (e.g. on getting taxi drivers to go electric, not diesel). They have already fought many of the battles we face.
Rosemary Sealey
Black Griffin Lane, Canterbury