North End isn’t dead, alderman claims

Suggestions designed to revitalise Portsmouth’s North End shopping centre, and to solve its pedestrian and traffic problems, were going to go to the public.

The views of the people, particularly those from North End, were to be sought despite prolonged and determined efforts by some members of the city council to block the process.

One of the council’s oldest campaigners Mr HE Collins, the senior alderman, declared: ’I am as much against demolition of good property as anyone. But the density of housing in Portsmouth is as great as any other county and is one of the greatest problems. We have reached the sorry plight where it is being said that North End is dead.

‘The ideas which are now being put forward present an opportunity of reviving North End and I think we should give the planners the chance to put those to the public.’