REFER to the letter from Mary Melland on 20 September about the Wetherspoon / Tudor-Whelan building on North Road. I disagree with her. Firstly, the further building on Rosemary Lane to which she refers, and for which the local developers Tudor-Whelan have permission, will only be two storeys high. It will do nothing to hide the messy zinc-on-chipboard gable end.

Also, it may be several years before it is built, if at all.

Secondly, the frontage to North Road is about 80 years old and has nothing to do with this current development. Yes indeed, the original builders of this frontage, who put public responsibility before profits those years ago, do deserve praise; but not the Whetherspoon and Tudor-Whelan partnership in the current development.

At the time the JJB to Wetherspoon conversion was proposed, many readers will recall the opposition of police and magistrates to a further alcohol outlet of this size. The developers produced an elaborate presentation to show how they were responsible developers. This included drawings showing how the gable end would be enhanced. This approach swayed the courts in their favour.

Even the drawing, now on display outside the building, shows how the replica chimney stack on the gable end was to be of stone, not a wooden structure faced with thin zinc sheets. The architect's drawings submitted, at both the outline and detail planning stages, showed this stone gable chimney-like structure.

Also, there was an attractive window shown, breaking up the now blank wall which rightly offends Geoff Woodhead.

Gradually, these promotional details have been whittled away for reasons of profit I believe. The developers went ahead to build the wood and zinc chimney, without even sending the planning office a drawing of what they intended to do. It was sent only a few weeks ago, after I had alerted the planning office to what was going on.

The planners have the right to refuse to accept the change, and to refuse to allow the building to be used until the building is corrected to the approved plan. Let us hope our Director of Regeneration advises councillors to have the guts to do this. The frontage of the other Wetherspoon outlet - The Sir Richard Owen in Spring Garden Street - likewise differs from the original plan. The plans submitted for the planning approval showed a much less messy frontage.

I wrote to architects and Wetherspoon with these concerns several weeks ago, but did not even receive the courtesy of an acknowledgement.

Michael Jackson

Hest Bank Lancaster