I AM incensed and disappointed at the extent of the Costa coffee shop sign on the building at the new Blackwater Retail Park.

Whichever way you approach this building, all you are faced with is Costa whether from the Heybridge direction, from the bypass or on leaving the town at the bottom of Market Hill.

The site appears to be the flagship building of the retail park and I think it is a lost opportunity there is no signage or display promoting the town, the River Blackwater or the history of the area (e.g. railway station, ironworks, timber yards and barges).

It just spells out money and heralds yet another presence of this commercial chain in the town.

I am raising this with the council and would hope that the degree of Costa signage can be significantly reduced and even more hopeful that more appropriate signage or artwork inviting visitors and championing what the area has to offer is being considered.

Jane Senior

Maldon