The "arts wonderland" to be staged in St George's Walk in December (Walk through an arts wonderland, Croydon Guardian, October 24) may provide temporary cheer for the doomed arcade, but when it ends the questions that so many residents are asking each other will remain unanswered.

What is the justification for the construction of Park Place?

When shopping units are lying empty for months in the Whitgift Centre and Centrale, why are yet more to be opened?

Where will the customers come from? Outer space?

What will happen to Allders, the town's famous department store, with a history of more than 120 years service to Croydon residents?

And what will become of Turtles? For staff at this unique hardware store, where every practical need of householder, gardener, craft hobbyist and DIY enthusiast can be met, it looks ominous.

We read that we need to support small local businesses, to prevent every high street in the UK from looking boringly identical, with the same chain stores and supermarkets, the same building societies and fast food outlets.

If Turtles and all the other little shops are to be swept away in order to construct a shopping centre which nobody wants except the developers - and presumably the council - what hope is there for individuality, ambition and energy?

Why not take the opportunity to modernise and refurbish St George's Walk and offer the units to the original businesses and others at fair rents, including a shop for Turtles?

Yes, it would be costly, but not as expensive as Park Place and surely backers with imagination and integrity could be found?

Final question - who really stands to gain from this development? Not, I suggest, Croydon's residents.

Mrs F Watson South Norwood