OUR heritage is crumbling away (LET, May 19). Among the many items catalogued was the impressive India Mill chimney - sentinel of Darwen along with the famous tower. In response was an excellent letter from M Hartley, Cliviger (June 5) criticising the jiggery pokery of the heritage bureaucrats.

In Blackburn, the elegant frontage of the Aspden Buildings, Preston New Road, Blackburn, the Duke of Wellington Inn, Furthergate, an interesting quaint Georgian edifice seem doomed for demolition as is the King Head Inn, King Street.

Alexandra Hall, the town's first cinema, is being razed to rubble but the memories linger on.

Another report concerning heritage (May 28) with the recent outrageous sacrilege and wanton destruction of several ancient and beautifully carved gravestones at Blackburn cemetery of the eminent pioneers who incorporated the town 150 years ago. Four years ago, the garden of remembrance, Corporation Park, was desecrated when the two bronze lion head fountains were ripped off the wall.

The terracotta entrance arch depicting the field gun of the LVA barracks, King Street, which preserved from the demolition 1986 has been abandoned at Cheshire. Nine months ago, I drew attention to a date stone, "Whalley Range Terrace 1867," for this to be preserved from the house on the corner of Oak Street, but again my concern and efforts were brought to nought.

Evidently the heritage administration, as such, lack enthusiasm and natural aptitude as heritage custodians - a lot is said but very little is done.

J A MARSDEN, Scarborough Road, Blackburn.

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