Town’s decline

Malcolm Garbutt's interesting letter regarding the decline of Waterlooville precinct (It's a slum! the news April 30) got me to thinking. I too have witnessed the downward spiral of Waterlooville precinct from the mid-1990s to the current day.

Some time ago an errand took me to the shopping centre where I discovered an air of abandonment pervading the boarded shop fronts and the many charity outlets.

I took some comfort in the fact that the library was still very much a jewel in this hitherto bustle of commerce, updated for modern media yet holding on to its community ambience.

After returning my library books, I emerged, buttoning my cloak against the chilly march wind. Pigeons nosed for morsels and ruffled their feathers in protest at the encroaching feet of shoppers.

Despite having cold fingers, a busking guitarist still managed to coax some dulcet arpeggios from his instrument . Across the road a homeless soul floated by, ghost-like, as much a victim of economic folly as the small shops. Friends share the benches, exchanging gossip, and a few stalwart smokers are puffing up a storm. Takeaway outlets are numerous, the littered streets a testament to post-pub tummy rumbles. Lurking on the side-lines the inevitable large supermarket leaches high street patronage like a gorging vampire at suck.

Anthony Fenlon Bursledon Road, Waterlooville