I honestly could not believe the stories in last week's paper about the latest ideas for boosting trade and visitors to the town – a decorative arch on Station Road and badges saying 'I had a great time in Whitley Bay'.

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Come on, far better ideas than this are thrown out each time the political lead changes on the council.

Ten, maybe 15 years ago, residents and businesses put considerable support behind vibrant plans to renew seafront leisure facilities and rekindle the town's 50s heyday. Oops, change of political power on the council, out go those proposals.

The people expressed their views but politicians, most of whom do not represent Whitley residents, ignored them. How on earth did we end up with a school in the middle of what should be an entertainment arena?
Far too late, but this was the obvious place for a new swimming pool.

Yes, we need more flowers in the town – the section between Woolworths and the masonic hall is completely insufficient – but the answer to a vibrant Whitley Bay is the rapid redevelopment of the grim seafront and Spanish City corner so there is something to attract visitors and put the heart back into the town.

Do up the properties on the lower prom to attract niche shops and cafes, reinstall the summer beach huts which are all the wow on the south coast, invest in Eric Lewis's ideas for the Dome, run family events every weekend through the school holidays.

I adored coming here as a child and have lived in the town for 25 years as a result. We have some excellent restaurants, great individual shops once again and an active party scene which should be encouraged for the revenue it brings.

But there is little else for visitors and virtually nothing for families. Huge thanks must go out all the traders, most especially those on Marine Avenue, who have stuck it out through the direst of times and for the new businesses which have breathed fresh life into Park View.

The notion that parking fees puts people off visiting is a red herring.
Parking charges are common in most town centres nationwide and throughout the rest of North Tyneside and I cannot see why Whitley Bay should be treated differently.

In Tynemouth you pay 80p for two hours' parking on the seafront and a further 50p to park in Front Street for an hour. Why is it too much to ask those who want to park near Whitley Bay shops to pay a small sum for the privilege?

People managed to shop and enjoy themselves here long before the car became ubiquitous.

SUE NICHOLSON
Percy Avenue,
Whitley Bay.

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