NONE of us can do things to a public area without permission, yet up and down the High Street, catering establishments put out tables and chairs on what a few years ago were our pavements before this cry for pedestrianisation eliminated traffic from our towns and it became illegal to cycle in these areas.

So little notice was taken by the local authority to control this situation with their multiplicity of managers and meetings, I am afraid that this laissez faire has spread to what was Poole’s historic working Quay, (now renamed by some arty-farty people).

I am not sure that the spread outside the Old Custom House building is any more legal than those fenced off areas of the High Street, and for me it is an infringement to interfere with the area around the Town Beam, one of the historic monuments on Poole Quay and not part of the Custom House Restaurant.

At a time when Poole has been trying to keep its traditions and that includes Beating the Sea Bounds, this particular area is the scene of the swearing in of the jury and of sentencing the pirates to walk the plank.

It becomes more difficult each year to teach tradition to those that now live in the fashionable parts of Poole, and few on the council, elected or employee, seems to care.

All power to such bodies as the Society of Poole Men, and Poole Heritage Forum, to retain our individuality, and the uniqueness of Poole.

BRIAN J GALPIN, Tatnam Road, Poole