LATELY I have read in the Daily Echo that tourists find Southampton to be not very interesting, a place where people just pass through on their way to places of more interest.

In all honesty, who can blame them? Give it some thought – office blocks and student accommodation are hardly inspiring to a tourist.

In its heyday, when Southampton was a thriving industrial town, it had colour. With its dockland pubs and cafes and a multitude of cinemas it was a going concern.

I still firmly believe that if Southampton was advertised in the right manner there would be a lot to offer tourists.

Take, for example, the lower part of town from Above Bar to the end of the High Street. Two thirds of the medieval walls are still standing, the Bargate is one of the finest examples of the medieval town gate to be found anywhere in the country. The High Street is built on a honeycomb of vaults and cellars, some of which could be put to use in the way of cafes and restaurants as they have been in York.

In the 1980s three or four of the old Southampton tram cars were being renovated for eventual display, what happened to them? Two or three of those old trams painted up the old colours of crimson and cream and put on display in the precinct close to the Bargate and used for refreshments would, in my opinion, be quite an attraction.

I believe it would be possible to have an old Spitfire on display somewhere near the Civic Centre – after all, Southampton was the place of the Spitfire’s birth.

Much could be made of the great part played by Southampton as a port of embarkation in the wars.

There is so much more that could be said about how Southampton could be revamped, but then you hear the negative side – where’s the money going to come from?

One more thing: the lack of public conveniences does not help in making people want to come back, colourful, interesting or not.

MR CE WATTS, Southampton.