Boot-iful idea should kick town on

HENRY Boot's £30-million plan to bring major retailers to Grimsby is more than a step in the right direction, it will allow town centre redevelopment to kick on further.
The 150,000 square feet of additional retail space should not compete with the gem Freshney Place, but extend the traditional town centre and allow for big names with bug size requirements to come in.
But the beauty of this plan, currently with the council, is how it will naturally extend the town centre - and by that I mean the area people will be willing to walk and shop.
While generally welcomed, the scheme does pose a question over extra traffic. We are a lazy bunch, we will park as close as possible, and when the wheather isn't the warmest then the attraction of waterside walks is lost slightly. But with Freshney Place's two major car parks, Abbey Walk multi-storey not far away, hopefully the proximity of the development will encourage people to use their feet, and not clog the likes of Frederick Ward Way and Corporation Road up any more. Stretching to Sainsbury's, it also could act as a bonus for Alexandra Retail Park and the developments that have revitalised Victoria Street North.

• An exhibition with more details on the proposal is being held at Grimsby's National Fishing Heritage Centre from noon to 7pm on Wednesday, March 21.