THE deadline for objections to the proposals for the so-called regeneration of the Sudell Cross area of Blackburn is by first post tomorrow.

Many people may think, after having seen the council's glossy presentation earlier in the year, that there can be little room for objection to improvements to the area. However, the devil, as they say, is in the detail.

What the brochures do not point out is the further disruption to town centre traffic and businesses which will be caused by creating more dead space like Church Street.

Through traffic is already being taken away from the town centre since the opening of the Barbara Castle Way extension yet the council propose to close the end of Northgate (from King William Street to Duke Street) and block off the end of Simmons Street at Sudell Cross when traffic using them is merely trying to access the businesses in the area.

There does not appear to be any reason for closing these streets.

Access to the area is vehicle borne rather than pedestrian and even so, crossing these roads does not present any problem because of the reduced amount of traffic.

The plans, as they are, will merely cut the area off from the rest of the town centre and indeed create a dangerous environment for pedestrians in Simmons Street.

It should be no problem to maintain vehicular access along Northgate to Sudell Cross and into Simmons Street as we have demonstrated to the council using an overlay on their current plans.

Regeneration is not achieved by merely making an area pretty, although you could say Church Street is not even pretty, but by creating an environment where businesses can flourish.

JOHN HALL, Portfolio Arts and Crafts, Simmons Street, Sudell Cross, Blackburn.