THIS has been a sad time for the people of Old Town, with fire striking again at the Locarno, its charred shell a testimony to the inexcusable neglect and disregard of one of the few surviving historic buildings in Swindon.

It seems almost trite to say it is a major disaster but it is difficult to find words to express the significance of this second attack.

This building, with its fine facade, is a unique landmark, a reminder of another era but now its blackened tower offers a mute rebuke to all of us.

It seems that the redevelopment of the site was close to completion.

A year ago, the redevelopment plans, including a model of the proposal were unveiled.

A grandiose vision of seven or eight-storey flats on top of the Locarno, more flats on the adjoining long stay car park (forcing elderly residents to make a long detour to get to the High Street), a restaurant, a bistro and even a piazza met our eyes.

Our hearts sank. Perhaps it was the thought of 100 or more flats with the inevitable 100 or more cars all within the tiny area of The Planks and The Weavers.

It is typical of councillors to argue such a plan must be better than a decomposing building. Can there be any excuse for not having put this building to community use a quarter of a century ago?

Surely saturation point has been reached with the new development in Old Mill Lane?

Since the first fire, residents have had to endure the the closure of The Planks. It has made us realise we would not be prepared to accept a permanent closure of the road to traffic and we have put our signatures to a statement to that effect for the information of the borough council.

MALATHY SITARAM

The Planks