We are concerned by delays to work to redevelop the Westgate Centre. Thus far, the developers have been happy to progress the scheme in anticipation that a public inquiry into a compulsory purchase order will go their way.

Our planning system is notoriously slow and delays in decison-making are commonplace.

The developers are also facing the threat of disruption from a small group of campaigners opposed to the expansion of the Westgate. However, the group is small and we do not believe it represents the majority of opinion.

Our real fear is that neither of these factors are motivating delays to work on the Westgate. Rather, it is the current economic climate that has led the developers to take a step back for the time being.

We have waited a long time for the redevelopment of the Westgate. Past schemes have come and gone. The last thing we want to see is for this scheme to go the way of its predecessors.