Move the pub

SIR, — There have been various ideas down the years to improve road safety and amenity at the King Harry Lane junction with Watford Road and Watling Street in St Albans which have not proceeded. So why not relocate the King Harry public house onto the vac

SIR, - There have been various ideas down the years to improve road safety and amenity at the King Harry Lane junction with Watford Road and Watling Street in St Albans which have not proceeded. So why not relocate the King Harry public house onto the vacant green adjacent the existing under-used car park opposite Waitrose?

This would require some council funding and agreements, but the King Harry could be reconstructed as it was originally as a two-storey period house without all the later additions (as in some other historic towns) and reconstructed as a local landmark and provide a high-quality historic pub-restaurant as part of a proper community centre for the Verulam estate where such facilities are sorely lacking.

King Harry Lane could then run into the roundabout nearest St Stephens, the other roundabout could be removed and the existing road junction and slip road greened over and landscaped with seating opening up new pedestrian friendly views of St Stephens.

The alternative is do nothing until either the pub closes or there is another serious accident. The pub itself and churchyard walls have been substantially rebuilt, most notably after the car transporter accident some years ago. While we may lose some greenery near Waitrose, we would certainly gain an improved tourist landmark on a prominent site and a new green pedestrian-friendly seating area and less tarmac and traffic at the King Harry junction.

PAUL SPELZINI,

Parkland Drive, St Albans.