I read with interest Mr Ryland’s letter (Times, December 23).

Just to clarify and to reassure him, the town centre improvements, brought forward by Braintree District Council in Witham directly link back to GVA recommendations for the town centre, which he champions in his letter. We certainly have not thrown them in the dustbin.

As a member of Witham Town Council Mr Ryland should know that we had hoped to implement changes earlier, but highway safety considerations meant a rethink. Braintree DC are currently working with Essex Highways and we remain very hopeful that we can deliver this scheme.

With respect to his comments relating to Braintree, he has missed the point totally. As said the Manor Street/Victoria Square is being developed on land OWNED by the council.

That gives greater opportunities for investment to generate revenue returns to pay for services for ALL residents of the district. Pedestrianisation is being largely paid for from Department of Transport money to address highway defects.

We continue to look for investment opportunities across the whole of the district and have said that we are happy to discuss opportunities with all parties in Witham.

As the traumatic year of 2020 closes, I hope Mr Ryland will accept that full social and economic recovery in 2021 will not be achieved by pitching one town against another.

Witham is a fantastic town and Braintree DC will play its part in ensuring it will bounce back better post-Covid, as we will with the whole district.

Councillor Tom Cunningham

Deputy Leader of Braintree District Council