Letter supporting Bracknell Forest Society From Lib dem PPC

4.09.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jun 2009

I can fully understand and support the efforts of the Bracknell Forest Society to promote our borough to a wider audience (Standard, 25 June) but it is not difficult to spot the ' areas in need of attention'.

For a start, the 3M building in Bracknell is an eyesore and a huge blot on the landscape. It is visible for miles around and should either be renovated or knocked down immediately.

Secondly, Bracknell town centre is in serious decline. Major retailers such as Woolworth and Marks & Spencer are no longer there and many smaller traders are finding it increasingly difficult to survive in the current economic climate. The much vaunted regeneration of the town centre needs to go ahead as soon as possible or residents will begin to believe it will never happen.

Sandhurst and Crowthorne have fared little better. Sandhurst has suffered from a chronic lack of investment for years and cannot even claim to have a town centre of its own. Crowthorne has a high street but the changes made to it in recent years have hardly been greeted with universal approval.

Cultural amenities within the borough have also been short-changed. Many civic buildings have endured years of under investment by the Borough Council and without Lottery and Government support, many of the improvements would not have been made.

Regrettably, public services have fallen into the same category. While we can certainly be proud of our green environment I, for one, would be much happier if we could also announce that the wider interests of many of our residents enjoyed an equal measure of official protection and support.

Ray Earwicker

Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell