I HAVE received a copy of your newspaper for December 31, 1996, in which is a letter by Mrs C Walker expressing her concern for the threatened Technical School building in Union Street, Darwen.

It is a most sensible letter with positive suggestions for saving the building.

I would like to add by asking some business people or entrepreneurs to consider turning the building into a system of shops and offices as well as incorporating the police station and health centre.

In Sydney, Australia, when councillors were going to demolish the old town hall there was an uproar. Eventually, investors were found and the Queen Victoria Building, now known nationally as the QVB, houses shops in arcade-style which are a draw for citizens and visitors.

Surely, something like this could be done with the old school building, which, incidentally, is my old grammar school.

Darwen lost the fine buildings in School Street and the area lost dignity.

Don't let that happen in Union Street. All that is needed is vision, determination, and investors and you could have a profitable venture in a fine old building.

JOAN HAMILTON, Oroua Street, Eastbourne, New Zealand.

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