I WAS emailed this little snippet from Mr Colin Long who writes, “This is a cutting from the Salisbury Times of July 1962 - almost 60 years to the day!” It makes interesting reading.

“The proposed development behind Fisherton Street, on the site of the Maltings, adds to the considerable scheme about to take place in the city centre. We must be very favoured to receive such attention, but there must be those who are wondering whether a city of our size merits such attention, and whether the speculators might not be expecting too much.

"After all, look at what we have got now. We have the Max Lock report to come, which will deal with the development of the central part of the city: the Hammerson Group project of a big pedestrian shopping precinct in the High Street – Canal – Catherine Street and New Street block, and now there is what I may call the Maltings’ scheme for another shopping precinct on this site. The money involved in these shopping precincts is considerable, and one wonders what sort of price will be asked for the shops in the precinct if and when it comes into being.

"Meanwhile, in the case of this and other development schemes, premises lie idle, with a consequent big loss to our rates. What intrigues me is that those owning these properties don’t seem to mind losing what could be easy money. I know in one instance an approach was made to rent, on a week-to-week basis if necessary, one of the empty shops, and a fair rent was offered. This offer was declined, and the shop has remained empty, earning nothing for the past three years. With so many places awaiting development, it is hard to say whether or not any more shops are needed – but I suppose we must wait and see…”