Improvements to Soho are going forward

AS a long-term Soho resident David Bieda (Square questions demand fair and square answers, Letters March 26) will be aware of a significant number of schemes for improvement in the public realm in Soho which are being delivered. 

The scheme on Argyll Street is now complete and that in Rathbone Place nears completion. 

These two high-quality schemes provide a significant upgrade of pavements and improve pedestrian safety as well as access to the Palladium (Argyll Street) and the Photographers’ Gallery (Rathbone Place).
 

Kingly Street is due to be completely revamped and the ongoing process of work in Regent Street and Carnaby Street will thereby be further enhanced. Berwick Street is due to undergo the significant upgrade to which he refers and will facilitate a revitalisation of the market to restore its rightful place as Soho’s high street.

Schemes currently being undertaken by the Crown Estate, Shaftesbury Plc and others include significant works to the public realm and in particular the pavements which surround such developments. 
 

All of these are agreed, funded, and will therefore happen.

All of us who care about Soho would like to see more of such works undertaken and they do, indeed, have a long lead time. 

However, we should not forget that they are still going forward in spite of the worst recession in the past 60 years and the highest level of indebtedness that this country has ever experienced. 

Unfortunately these are issues over which Westminster Council has no control .

We will have to wait a lot longer for those debts to be repaid than we will for the streets of Soho to be repaved.