People would be proud of a theatre

I recently read the good news that the old Odeon building was still in the running for Grade Two listed status I thought that Ashford could soon have the theatre it so desperately needs.

This week I read that the council are putting out tenders to demolish it, why do they want to destroy a building that any other town and councils would see as an asset.

Mr Clarkson sends a member of the council to look at a car park which he thinks we need and it will change colour at night, this should be good entertainment on a Saturday evening. I have done some research on The

Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks (the old Odeon Cinema) now a community arts centre putting on various types of entertainment, including pantomimes. I ask you Mr Clarkson, could you not send a member of the council up to Sevenoaks and gather a few facts on what could be done with our old Odeon cinema, instead of being hell bent on pulling it down for some not only ridiculous but useless structures.

With due respect, you mentioned a couple of times that cinemas do not make good theatres. I am afraid you are so wrong. These buildings were designed for use as theatres. Many of us will remember in the Sixties going to our local Odeon to see our favourite bands on stage and don’t forget that The Marlowe Theatre - before the latest building - was in fact a cinema.

So please, think again. As members of the public, we have been let down so badly recently by our politicians in Parliament, perhaps you could have a rethink and give our town something to be proud of.

It could of course help to fill many of our new restaurants.

C. Chamberlain

Willesborough streets, making any access to even the present hospital often very difficult.

GPs are frequently advising patients to use A&E when they cannot cope with the population expansion from housing development.

The suggestion that a developer will bargain to build a hospital in exchange for extending his building portfolio which again would add greater demands on the roads and the A&E facilities is surely irrational.

The need for more units to deal with emergencies closer to the needs of potential patients to reduce distance and time spent reaching them is surely significant.

Consultant requirements are not the same.

Mr S. J. Emery

The Moat, Charing bus service from Hythe and Folkestone to Canterbury.

Elizabeth Lonkhurst

East Cliff, Folkestone

The former Odeon cinema in Ashford High Street