Letter: North Street Viewed from Montevideo

Published on: 31 Aug, 2022
Updated on: 31 Aug, 2022

From Alvaro Cuenca

In response to: 15 Storeys High But People At North Street Exhibition Say It’s ‘Good For Guildford’

I was a visitor in Guildford last June. I have a daughter living in this lovely town. Some comments from an outsider who has nothing at stake except, hopefully, common sense.

Aerial view of the North Street Regeneration site

There is wasteland and derelict buildings on the proposed North Street site. There will be, there must be, urban development there. It’s inevitable and welcome.

But the proposed real estate development will change the face and life of its surroundings. Is Guildford’s town centre ready and capable to deal with the thousands of new inhabitants it will receive?

Are Guildford streets and lanes capable of supporting the increased population?

Even thinking about North Street makes me unhappy and nostalgic.

I think it would be much more acceptable for Guildford in general to have a real estate development with a third of the proposed capacity with parks instead of bricks.

And if the worst comes to the worst, I hope bricks will be preferred to the overwhelming use of glass and steel.

Changing of venue but not the subject, what about Debenhams on the river? I hope nothing alike is brewing for that beautiful site.

Kind regards from Montevideo.

Articles on the proposals for Debenhams can be found here.

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