THE demolition men have arrived on the site of the former college buildings.

Their garish orange screens create a kind of discordant harmony with the unpleasant green panels decorating the walls above. But I notice with disquiet that the screens extend to include the boys’ grammar school and what remains of the Mechanics’ Institute.

Does this signify that all the buildings will come down together? I realise this was one of several proposals put forward but has the decision been made? Does anybody know?

The whole process has rightly been described as a “shambolic mess”. The Keighley News editorial column (November 10) characterised the Cavendish Street building as the “ugly sister” to the North Street building: “an outdated unwanted carbuncle on the face of an historic Keighley street”.

That makes two ugly sisters then?

Is there not a case to be made, therefore, for the older buildings as a sort of Cinderella? All right, she might need a decent hairdo and a nice new frock; perhaps even a pair of glass slippers, but that could be done. The buildings were designed to be adaptable to changing circumstances. Architects can do impressive things if you give them enough money to play with.

Too often, however, they are obliged to work for tight-wads; short-duration local politicians and short-sighted town planners, who tend to be gifted with little imagination and even less common sense.

Some individuals have proposed the site should be given over to private enterprise, to speculators. Do those in favour of this have any idea of what this course of action will have on the very centre of Keighley? Do they have any doubts? I do.

This whole project demands a more extended vision of what the town will actually look like in years to come. Reasonable financial investment now will, I think, reap rich dividends for Keighley’s future.

The decision to demolish all the buildings on this site was probably made quite some time ago; in Bradford, not in Keighley. Metropolitan councils are not noted for their sensitivity to public opinion, however many signatures go onto the petition. But even if this proved to be a lost cause, I still believe it is important the people of Keighley should make their opinion known, by whatever means; not just to have another snipe at Bradford but to let Bradford know just how unhappy you are about the insensitive decisions it makes on your behalf.

Ten miles away? They might as well be in London.

CHRISTOPHER ACKROYD Bethel Street, East Morton