IN June, I wrote about the state and future of Blackburn's oldest public house, The King's Head on King Street.

This historically important building, almost 250 years old is still in a pathetic and crumbling condition. If it is allowed to become more unsafe, it will have to be demolished.

The same fate looks likely to happen to the 'Royal Hotel' also on King Street.

This fine Regency building, built in 1804, was one of the finest buildings in the borough.

Banquets, dances, celebrations of Wellington's victory at Waterloo, and important meetings were held there, but it is now in a sorry and disgraceful condition. One of the reasons these buildings end up in this condition is Blackburn Council's idiotic decision to obliterate all the town's approach roads.

What were once thriving and important communities of shops, and public houses etc. are now deserted wastelands where nobody wants to live, never mind visit.

What the council has done to the likes of Bolton Road, King Street, Penny Street, Eanam, Furthergate and Bottomgate, Audley Range and Preston New Road is criminal and an absolute disgrace.

Erecting awful and pathetic metal trumpets outside King George's Hall, and useless metal gates in Northgate is nothing to be proud of.

The councillors in this once proud town have no taste at all, but that is to be expected, as they are brainless as well.

S HORSFIELD (MR), Lincoln Road, Blackburn.

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