Last updated 10:36, Friday, 19 September 2008

THE article Going Underground (The Cumberland News, September 12) brings back memories for me because, along with Hugh Little, I served on Carlisle City Council from 1962-1965 when all the plans for the inner and outer ring roads for the city were being discussed.

There was very strong opposition from the Carlisle Preservation Society under the chairmanship of Jim Barnes.

This outside body of people’s power did more than any opposition, any councillors or any other organisation to influence the council to think again on many of its traffic control schemes.

The city council required compulsory purchase orders on lots of properties; on Spencer Street, the top of London Road, Warwick Road and many other sites in the city that stood in the path of any future plans for road traffic improvement.

The Carlisle Preservation Society declared open war on the city council and, in my opinion, such strong criticism forced the city council to backtrack on some of its compulsory purchase orders of properties.

I, personally, think that one of the reasons for Warwick Road, London Road and Wigton Road taking vehicles out of the city centre was the result of Carlisle Preservation Society’s criticisms.

I was against Lowther Street being closed off and ending up as a car park at the bottom.

I think in years to come Lowther Street will be opened up again to facilitate the passage of traffic.

I don’t think that Carlisle Castle is cut off. On the north side, you can walk on the pavement on both sides to gain entry, pedestrians can use the underpass from Tullie House and from West Walls you can use the high bridge across the dual carriageway.

From the rest, you can have access by car if security allows you to park by the playground.

FRANK PHILLIPS
Hartington Place
Carlisle