WRITING about plans for a shopping development in St Helen Auckland, and the likely effect on Bishop Auckland town centre, BM Atkinson wrote: “What is to become of this historic old town centre?” (HAS, Sept 7) When is everyone going to look at the bigger picture here?

We have an exciting new development at St Helen Auckland which provides us with an ideal opportunity to refocus and redevelop the town centre.

This should be looked upon as an opportunity and not a threat.

It seems that Durham County Council, in partnership with the Auckland Castle Trust, has bold new plans for the castle and town centre.

Visitors to Auckland Castle will expect to see the proud heritage that Bishop Auckland has to offer. The architecture in the town is amazing if only you stand back and look at it and, while the old Victorian buildings don’t lend themselves to modern high street shopping chains and betting shops, they are ideal for the kind of family-run businesses and arts and crafts shops that we really need.

We have to provide visitors with an “experience” and we must integrate our shops and align them with the vision of the county council and the Auckland Castle Trust.

There is no doubt that Councillor Sam Zair has presided over a decade of decline in Bishop Auckland town centre.

There has been little or no strategic planning for years.

You can’t suddenly blame Coun Rob Yorke for this just because he is attracting new developments to St Helen Auckland.

Perhaps, instead of inviting Mary Portas, they should invite Coun Yorke to advise on turning around the fortunes of Bishop Auckland town centre?

Then, maybe it will become as successful as the St Helen development and our dreams of a town centre thriving alongside the hidden gem of Auckland Castle will become a reality.

RN Aberdeen, Bishop Auckland.