IN THE late 1940s a plan was put forward to turn Bournemouth Square into a traffic-free area by leading all the roads on to a raised roundabout.

This would have enabled pedestrians to walk undercover between the lower and upper gardens and the shops, and provided an undercover plaza for rainy days. Bournemouth planners did not agree.

Since then millions have been spent on trying to improve the Square by diverting roads but visitors still have to cross two busy roads one of which carries all the buses to an inadequate on-street and service-free terminal. To many visitors the upper gardens are a no-go area.

Poole councillors should consider looking upwards when planning their town centre square.

An open plaza built over the bus terminal and Kingland Road would provide not only a way of linking art, sport and shopping but also the development of the surrounding commercial premises at first floor level, without having to move the bus terminal to a less convenient place and trying to realign and build town centre roads.

MIKE PAULEY Parkstone Road, Poole