DESPITE widespread condemnation and opposition, Southampton City Council has persisted in its determination to squander taxpayers' hard-earned money on a trial of the proposed laser lights from the Civic Centre clock tower.

If the council truly wishes to make Southampton a focal point of the south' they should immediately drop this insane laser scheme and concentrate on providing facilities which will truly enhance the city and make it an irresistible draw to the thousands of potential visitors to the south.

Such a huge sum would be far better spent on providing a large ice rink (promised nearly 20 years ago), proof positive that this would be an enormous success was amply provided when nearly 12,000 people attended the temporary ice rink in Guildhall Square during the Christmas period.

Also, everything possible should be done to assist Ikea to locate one of their stores on the old Pirelli site.

These two attractions would draw visitors from a huge surrounding area - to the enhancement of Southampton - and make it a real focal point.

Obviously the problem of traffic congestion would have to be addressed at the same time, but this would give the council an opportunity of vastly improving public transport facilities.

An innovative park-and-ride scheme could be put in place to make the city centre car-free, with small shuttle buses making a continuous circuit of the shopping areas so that passengers would know they only had a few minutes to wait for the next shuttle (a similar service to London tube trains).

To avoid traffic congestion and the necessity of providing parking facilities at Ikea (thus leaving more space for a bigger store), coaches with their large luggage storage areas underneath could run from Ikea to the park-and-ride so that customers would have no difficulty in transporting purchases to their cars.

This type of scheme would also be an advantage to the Southampton Boat Show, as they too could dispense with the need for car parking space and increase the number of boat display places.

As a knock-on effect, fewer parking spaces would be required in the city centre and - for instance - East Street Shopping Mall could be turned into a further attraction for visitors, such as an unusual drop-in sports facility, with perhaps chess, badminton, snooker, coffee shops etc. This would also draw visitors to the other shopping malls and museums in the vicinity.

Laser lights will not put Southampton on the map - what irresistible attractions are there for visitors when they do get here?

Shops, shops and more shops, and they can see plenty of those in their home area. Far more is needed to draw visitors to the city - and keep them enthusiastic.

If the present council feel incapable of providing the necessary innovation, then they should step down and make way for another council who have the imagination, drive and capability to really make Southampton the exciting vibrant city it could be.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.