I refer to the recent articles referring to the re-development of the Sovereign Centre arcade shopping area in Boscombe.

Please think again.

My wife and I, being on the elderly side and somewhat limited in walking capacity (indeed a wheelchair is used) have used this arcade more in the pat two to three years for our main source of exercise and shopping.

The Sovereign Centre is the only covered pedestrian shopping/walking area in this area and would be greatly missed by many others in our predicament. It's also a 'family run free area'.

Christchurch missed out badly when they removed the canopies they did have.

This costly development will not in itself solve the current high street shopping crisis.

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