Description:This letter was printed in the Heathan in February 1981
"Dear Editor,
You will no doubt be sorry to learn that I am giving up my business in Ladypool Road - a wrench after 15 years. I leave at the end of January and will leave behind many happy memories and friends, most of them West Indian and Asian who have been my customers as schoolboys and now have families of their own.
Due to the very large unemployment rate in the area, coupled with general poor trading in the retail trade, business has slumped and I can no longer afford to hold out waiting for better times.
Over the years I have seen many changes in "The Lane" - some of them for the better, but many more for the worse. I bitterly condemn the Council and the Department of the Environment for allowing the area to decay with "on-off" policies to which there
seems no end.
Many successful traders have had their premises compulsory purchased, only to see them re-let on
short leases to people who have no hope of success because of the uncertainty of "if and when", "no and yes" etc.
Nothing has been done about off-street parking despite lots laying idle. Pavements are a disgrace and the salvage Department will not clear rubbish or empty bins if they cannot drive the truck right up to it.
I have protested to the Health, Environment and Salvage Departments, even to the Police over the
years, but the only thing that remains constant is the regular parking tickets if one is a little slow crossing one's car over at 1 o'clock.
Enough is enough, but I still leave with regret and wish all my many friends all the best, hoping that better times are ahead for them.
Keep up the good work,
DON HALL,
328 Ladypool Road."