SO, once again Worcester is set to lose one of its architectural gems (Evening News, September 6) and once again, at the heart of the matter, has been a lack of vision on the part of officers.

The loss of the former council offices, built in 1863 and next to Cripplegate Park, is a salutary lesson that surely by now this council should have learnt.

When the council vacated the offices, the property was mothballed and a lack of vision consigned this beautiful gem to a sorry, slow decline.

Without a use - and surely next to the park one could have been found - the council merely paid to keep it empty.

It is an irony that the officers have paid out more over the years to do nothing than to pay for the repair of the buildings.

Ten years at £18,000 a year is appreciably more than the estimated £150,000 to now save it!

Furthermore, if the property cannot be used because of flooding, it is surprising that on the opposite bank, the Old Rectifying House appears to overcome these problems.

So, for want of vision we have a loss - and it will be a significant loss. This part of the riverside has precious little of architectural merit to inspire.

The exchange will offer a modest extension to the park that will hardly be noticed and which will need intensive landscaping to screen the adjacent rather run-down garage.

So, well done Worcester - another lost opportunity - rather like the Beehive public house on Tallow Hill. Unless officers gain some vision the question will inevitably be - what next?

DR MALCOLM NIXON,

Claines,

Worcester.