Smart move by Angus Council

Sir, - From the figures published in The Courier last week, Angus Council should be congratulated in managing to offload the member services building at The Cross in Forfar.

The maintenance costs of almost £150,000 over the past five years and the projected future costs of almost £420,000 are surely indicative of a building no longer fit for purpose.

I have had wide experience of the ongoing and long-term maintenance of buildings similar to the two former Victorian banks which form the present building.

Angus Council’s decision to sell this property to JD Wetherspoon will see Forfar at least getting a pub/restaurant of the type which has proved very popular throughout Scotland.

It is to be hoped, since the estimated maintenance costs were leaked in a very public manner, that JD Wetherspoon will not now review their offer made before the building was unsuccessfully offered on the open market.