THE proposed demolition of St James' spire in Burnley is wrong - especially as it is a listed building. If it is pulled down, the heart will be taken out of the town.

In Burnley, we have had enough demolition to last a lifetime. The list makes sad reading. We lost the fine old market hall, New Market Hotel (both above) Odeon Cinema, Victoria and Palace theatres, Thorn Hotel etc, to name but a few.

And what replaced them? Nothing but precast concrete buildings. Burnley is fast becoming a concrete jungle. And with shops and stores closing, we don't need yet another multi-storey car park.

I haven't forgotten the £1 million car park at the back of the town hall, which we were left with after the plan to extend the town hall failed due to lack of funds. We have had enough expense already.

Enough is enough. Come on, Burnley Council, get your act together and consult such bodies as the local Civic Trust, before you contemplate more destruction.

BRIAN WATSON, Rosehill Road, Burnley.

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