Postbag: A real headache

From the archive, first published Thursday 8th Mar 2007.

THE changing face of Clacton is at the moment giving everyone a headache - rightly so!

With diggers, lorries, barriers and holes everywhere, plus no parking, it's a wonder people come to Clacton at all.

Pier Avenue will look nice with trees, new pathways and seats, but the water feature - no! It's a complete waste of money. The area could have been slabbed with a few trees and look just as good.

The money could have been used to build a leisure centre on the front of town, ie the coach park, which is only ever half-full. A leisure centre for everyone, holidaymakers, families on day trips, somewhere to take the children in wet weather.

All we have is 150 yards of amusements, a pier and shops to keep dry.

A leisure centre that people who do not live in the town can find. A leisure centre that has artificial waves, shops, indoor bowls, children's play area, not just swimming and keep-fit equipment (no disrespect to anyone wishing to keep fit and healthy).

A leisure centre like Yarmouth or Felixstowe, which pays for itself over and over again.

Last, but not least of all, the lights of Clacton town. Where are they? During the Christmas and summer period, they should be on. All holiday towns, small or large, have lights.

Years ago there were lights everywhere. You would approach Clacton from Holland Haven end and see the lights blinking away and, as you got nearer, they were everywhere, but sadly no more.

Christmas 2005 there was an attempt at having more lights which did look good, apart from the blown bulbs of many, but an effort was made, and the good people of Clacton were informed more lights would be up the following Christmas and summer.

Whereas 2006 saw a Christmas tree erected by the contractors for a very good cause and there were two bush-like trees opposite with a few lights on - and that was that! Pathetic!

If the planning department of TDC can spend monies on water features, surely they could budget for lights?

A seaside town without lights is a ghost town and nobody comes to a ghost town.

TONY SMITH,

Dudley Road, Clacton

For more letters, make sure you get this week's Clacton Gazette.