ABINGDON’S proposed new shopping precinct plans do not appear to be user-friendly. As I understand it, there will be no cover over the walkways, and the library and health centre may not be on the ground floors.

It has been proposed to turn it into an open plan area, with no protection from snow, ice, rain and wind.

Remember Oxford’s Cowley shopping centre before it had a proper cover over it? It was a cold miserable place. Now it has a proper cover and it is easy to relax and use all its facilities.

The library and health centre need to be as easy as possible to get into, especially for disabled and older people.

RONALD TAYLOR, Ashgate, Abingdon