How quickly we seem to forget.

Carmelo Garcia’s report on the possible regular temporary close-down of Kington High Street was enlightening.

Throughout the entire lockdown period the Grapevine and Number 25 Delicatessen at the western end of the High Street performed heroically to take orders and manage collections by appointment, with strict social distancing disciplines in place.

With no complaint, they endured personal discomfort throughout.

It is important to note that many, if not the majority, of the people they served were not walk-up customers but people who had driven some distance to shop in Kington.

Farmers and members of the rural community were supported by these businesses, when it was nigh-on impossible to obtain a delivery from superstores.

While it is, of course, good to be considering green issues such as walking and cycling, it might be worth planners considering that making people who drive to Kington from the east or west do an extra one and a half miles to get to the opposite end of town would hardly be beneficial to Kington’s carbon footprint.

Consultation should cover a wider spectrum than those who can walk to Kington’s shops.

The commercial impact might also be considered.

From a personal perspective, the additional distance would put me in a position to decide whether to travel to Hay-on-Wye or Leominster, each with a broader choice for shopping and much cheaper fuel for the car.

Quite a number of us in Kinnersley were served heroically by the businesses mentioned above.

We would like to be loyal to them once the crisis is over. This should be a critical factor in the planning process.

Ronnie Wilkie
Kinnersley