DOES anyone in an official or elected position of responsibility ever come to look at the Birnbeck area of our town or have any conscience about it?

DOES anyone in an official or elected position of responsibility ever come to look at the Birnbeck area of our town or have any conscience about it?

Whenever the issues of Birnbeck are raised in the press or in council, there is a ripple of sympathy, a few tut-tuttings and then nothing.

Apathy and indifference prevail as usual. It takes a letter from a visitor (J Baker, Opinion, April 30) to highlight yet again the state of Birnbeck with such clarity and perception; closed down and vandalised hotels, buildings in every state of disrepair and neglect, and a recent confirmation from English Heritage of neglect and decay and damaging change.

Mrs Baker comments: "I'm surprised the residents are not up in arms..."

Well we are and have been for years. We have organised petitions, led protests and campaigns, sought the support of our local councillors, our MP, made representations to North Somerset and Weston town councils, we have attended planning meetings, an appeal and even engaged and financed professional advice and services.

Over the years we have written hundreds of letters to every agency and individual with an interest or responsibility, to no effect.

English Heritage says "councils and the public need to work together." We the residents have tried our best.

Mrs Baker further comments on the lack of commitment by the council to take any action and proposes a newspaper campaign to photograph and highlight the state of the area, and action be taken in some instances by implementing Section 215, 1990 Town and Planning act.

As for the Dorville Hotel, after seven empty and trouble filled years it needs to be demolished, in spite of planning regulations.

A decision on this one issue would signal determination and commitment and energise the whole area.

It would be easy to use the state of the economy to put any action aside and do nothing again.

Seafront regeneration has gone as far as Knightstone and Madeira Cove on the boundaries of Birnbeck, now is the logical time to regenerate an area which was once and still could be a tourist attraction of distinction offering visitors another pleasing aspect of Weston.

MRS M FREEMAN

South Road

Weston