Your views in brief... on where the Covid testing centre should have been placed

The story: A Northampton cafe owner next to the Covid-19 testing centre in Market Square says he ‘cannot reasonably’ open

The old bus station site would have been a better choice as a drive-thru test centre.

Nicola Scaldwell

Totally agree with Tom. With all the disused shops and open areas with parking this is a bad idea. Potentially infected people having to park in grosvenor or other parking areas then to walk through shopping malls etc typical of Northampton council.

Christine Decosterryan

I think everyone in the world can see and has said since this was announced, it was the worst place to put it, cafe track does an amazing job helping so many people, I really feel for Tom and everyone there.

Scott Jordan

I feel really sorry for Cafe Track, I really do. I hope the council will listen to the people here. Yes of course we need a testing centre but not on the market square! It’s a really stupid place to put it. outside.

Sue Tooke Mangion-Cavarra

The Argos car park would have been a much safer and better location far enough away so shops can still open not be affected yet out in the open and easily accessible

Kayleigh Elizabeth

Should have set this up a long way from shops out of town the old bus station ground would be good !! Or sarcastically put it at Rushden lakes car park then drive the shoppers back to Northampton!

Lucy Hillyard

Terrible to hear. I always see such rational solutions in the comments on these posts such as; why not use a large currently disused car park elsewhere, it really makes you wonder how on earth someone thought ‘yeah, let’s put it smack in the middle of town.’ And other people agreed!

Sam Smart

As everyone says, it’s a crazy place to put it, but almost anywhere else would cost the council money. The car park at the Saints and Argos are privately owned and so would cost. They had one at Northampton University for a while, so there must be a reason they haven’t just opened that up again.

Stacey Mallendane