The planters were all right until the "night life" of Rushden (probably affected by alcohol) kept removing the plants.

I have been informed by Rushden councillors that the Rose and Crown wants to improve the area outside the pub to provide a smokers' section.
In your article (October 8) it is confirmed that Greene King, the owner, is coming up with ideas.

In the Your Local column (Evening Telegraph, November 15) the article states: "It (the Rose and Crown) hopes to soon inject a continental style into the High Street by creating an open air seating area with umbrellas in front of the pub as part of the plans to redevelop the area.

Miss Rowe (the landlady) says: "It will give our smokers somewhere to go where they won't feel conspicuous and it will be nicer for the people of Rushden."

How can an extension to the pub into the High Street be nicer for us shoppers? All it will do will encourage more noisy drinkers to loiter in the street, dropping fag-ends and making pedestrians walk through a smoke haze.

Having a pub bar on the High Street will not encourage shoppers to try a more continental way of life.

Much as I appreciate the problems the pub has in having no means of providing a smokers' shelter on its own property, providing a private facility on a public highway should not be allowed.

At a time of concern about an increase in drink-related problems and the creating of alcohol-free zones in towns to combat it, surely this scheme does not fit well with current thinking.

Surely it cannot be lawful for the county council, as owner of the full width of the High Street from shop front to shop front, to allow a public house to provide a smokers' shelter or drinkers' area on a public highway.

RICHARD GELL
Handcross Way,
Higham Ferrers