WITH regard to the Gazette’s front page about Grays last week “Great plan for redevelopment”, there are still those of us who can remember the effects of so-called redevelopment under the auspices of the previous Labour administration.

The total destruction of the area south of the railway line, the old market, the old High Street, the coaching inn, the Dutch houses, the list goes on.

Then there was its subsequent reconstruction which, in short, went under the wrecking ball, all at the taxpayers’ expense.

Who will be in the new Town Team for Grays?

The crowd of no-hopers currently looking after our town, recently described in the national press as an ugly blot on the Essex marshes?

Or maybe it will be more expensive professional consultants, at the rate payer’s expense.

Perhaps Cllr Andy Smith could tell us his credentials for being responsible for regeneration, or will that once again be by calling on even more ratepayer funded consultants?

Who are these stakeholders? Developers presumably, who grab ratepayer’s money and run.

Has Mary Portas ever been to Grays?

What makes her any more of an expert on our town than those who live here?

So it will be up to local people to decide? Like the 2,000 signatories who were ignored over the redevelopment of Thurrock college?

Can we have it explained in very simple terms exactly what powers the so-called Town Team will inherit and who it will inherit them from?

In my opinion, nothing will change Grays High Street because of Lakeside Shopping Centre and parking charges.

Will these improvers be willing to augment the roads, sewerage and the other infrastructure, or will that also be left to ratepayers to finance? – JW ROBERTS, Grays.