Diversity of opinions

I read four papers daily to get a broad coverage of news and views including of course The News.

Excellent coverage of local news, sport, housing and cars, not forgetting the brilliant letters page!

Yes I contribute with trenchant views on politics/politicians, specifically Brexit, the Royals, the EU and occasional digs at freemasonry and Portsmouth Football Club.

What I do enjoy is not just the diversity of opinions but the quality of those opinions and quality of the writing and presentation of those viewpoints.

Pompey is a ‘rough old city’ in many ways but now typifies so much in the UK.

Over populated, cramped which is a different thing, too much substandard housing, low wages, and too many residents living below the ‘breadline’.

Not forgetting reminding sections of residents to take more responsibilities for their actions and lifestyles.

We still lack the class of Chichester, Winchester and Bournemouth and the artiness of Brighton and probably never attain that but the ‘rough edges’ of our city remind me of Liverpool – a throbbing metropolis, very working class, great port and a now a tourist destination. If our leaders can harness Portsmouth’s diversities (like your readers’ letters express) maybe if Brexit succeeds and make us a Free Port, build upon the undeniable tourist destination of Gunwharf, our three-mile promenade, Historic Dockyard, sort the city-wide parking hell and reduce the avalanche of petty and not so petty ‘against the person crime’ then ‘Pompey’ can move from just a ‘Matelots town’ to a ‘must visit south coast gem’. We need not just a bit of spit and polish but a measure of style, flair and imagination and exploit the huge attractions those cities mentioned do not have.

Blount Road Portsmouth