City centre upgrade projects 'too long'

PEOPLE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN THEM, SAYS COUNCILLOR

- ALISON STEPHENSO

A PLYMOUTH Independent councillor claims people in the city have “lost confidence” in some high-profile regeneration projects because they are taking a long time.

Cllr Steve Ricketts (Ind, Drake) told the ‘natural infrastructure and growth’ scrutiny panel that whilst some brilliant things are happening in Plymouth and the city is “on the up” there is a certain disappointment with projects such as the train station, Central Park ponds and the Armada Way regeneration.

“The public lost confidence with some of the ‘heart of the city’ projects because they can see it. It’s so visible,” he said. “I have no doubt projects are starting, but it’s finishing the job that’s the problem.”

He said plans to regenerate the city centre in the Plymouth Economic Strategy sound great on paper but asked: “How can local people be satisfied these will happen in timely manner?”