I REALISE it may upset some dedicated people who spend their time, sometimes justifiably so, lobbying councils and construction firms who wish to pull down derelict buildings in the name of progress and profit but in the case of the Kingsway Baths, the bus depot, the Winter Gardens and the Midland Hotel, it is now time to get real and prepare for the 21st century.

In reality these buildings are all derelict and would all cost a fortune to restore. The baths and the bus depot are in a state of total disrepair and if the council, architects and accountants had thought for one minute they were investing cash to restore and upgrade them to the required standard they would have done so as an alternative to the Salt Ayre complex. As it is the baths are degenerating rapidly and the depot has become a des-res for vermin. The Grade 2 listing is no more than a well-meaning opinion and should be lifted on the grounds of health, safety and above all the fact these buildings are eyesores. Those who want to retain the heritage should take as many pictures for posterity as they can and then allow the slums to be pulled down and make way for progress. The Midland Hotel is another building to outlive its purpose, another prime site occupied by a slum (the best bit has been stolen). It's neither use nor ornament and Morecambe's regeneration is missing a large, seaside hotel with conference facilities, bars and good quality entertainment. This is an ideal opportunity for the council to take the bull by the horns and buy the hotel, pull it down and invest in a hotel that would give a good return instead of an ongoing debt. No doubt there are valuable items in the Midland that can be salvaged and incorporated in the new building to keep others happy. Take pictures of it they will last longer than the building anyway. Finally the Winter Gardens... surely he doesn't want to pull that down I hear you cry... you're damned right I do. Not all of it just the back of it. The empty bit that we all know will never be used as a theatre again. People can't get in to see the wonderful ceilings etc, so why keep it? There is no sign of any further lottery cash and all it has done so far is help create a row of shop fronts, nice shop fronts but empty! And all you nostalgia lovers should realise that a seaside resort can not survive on memories... stop living in the past.

A J Smith

Crimewell Lane

Heysham Village

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.