Letter: Pensioners Need a Town Centre Meeting Point

Published on: 7 Nov, 2015
Updated on: 8 Nov, 2015

From Bernard Parke

Hon alderman and former mayor of Guildford

Since the centre at Haydon Place was closed and the riverside cafe was lost as a meeting place for elderly people visiting the town centre, there is nowhere in central Guildford were such pensioners can meet and chat to relieve the stress they experience in our congested town centre.

One concerned resident has written to me to say that even the seating outside Marks & Spencer has been removed together with that in the Friary Centre.

Many of these senior citizens have walking problems.

Is it too much to ask for a new place be found for them to meet up without loud music, etc, and perhaps enjoy a coffee or tea with their friends?

There are unfortunately today too many lonely people who would benefit both mentally and physically from such a facility that they once had here not so very long ago.

Perhaps such a plea will not fall upon deaf ears, but hopefully not.

Responses to Letter: Pensioners Need a Town Centre Meeting Point

Alan Wyle Reply

November 8, 2015 at 6:26 pm

It is not only older people that need somewhere to go. I am 78.
We need a place in the centre of Guildford for everybody to use. A place to meet; a place to learn.
it should be a place with meeting rooms, a cafe, a local produce shop, a help and guidance desk.
I have been discussing this with people who live in Guildford.
Let’s meet.
Peta Malthouse Reply

November 9, 2015 at 11:58 am

Guildford is one of the most inhospitable centres for people over 50 who have limited mobility or mobility limited by the massive hills surrounding our beautiful town.

We need loads of places to stop and rest and a hop off system either of buses or buggies to help us navigate the sprawling retail area. Master vision planners please note.

Those of us over 50 are the ones with the spending power who still want to visit shops rather than do it online.
Amy Yorston Reply

November 12, 2015 at 12:18 am

When the Riverside closed some of the pensioners started using The Electric Theatre Cafe as a meeting point. GBC missed a trick there – it’s an accessible venue next to the river but also near car parks and the bus station so a great place to meet and chat – it could have been promoted as an alternative but wasn’t, so unfortunately many people still don’t know that it’s open during the day for hot drinks and cake.