THE comments on the demise of Kearsley Town Hall (Letters, February 16) by Peter Johnston shouldn’t surprise anyone who reads The Bolton News regularly.

To say that the building is “of no practical use” and that Farnworth Town Hall “is more accessible to Kearsley residents” shows no understanding of the area or appreciation of the needs or opinions of the Kearsley community.

The building, with appropriate modifications, would have made a much needed community space, for example a UCAN Centre. It has been left to the local Methodist church to partially fill that gap.

Much needed social housing could have been accommodated in the building, or even a local health facility. It is on the main road with public transport passing by regularly. Peter’s line of thinking has, in the past, “seen off” other buildings which could or should have been put to other use. Farnworth Arcade, Farnworth Grammar School, Farnworth Co-operative Society, Odeon Cinema, Bolton Technical College, Clarence Street School spring to mind, where all but one have left their respective areas in a worse state.

Finally, the responsibility for the sad demise of Kearsley Town Hall lies completely with Bolton Council.

Their mismanagement of the building allowed it to be “vandalised”, which reduced an estimated valuation of the building of about £600,000 to a paltry £135,000, leaving the unanswered questions: Who was responsible? Why was it allowed to happen? Has anyone taken responsibility?

In the most recently published census figures, Kearsley has more than 13,248 residents, Westhoughton 12,739, Horwich and Blackrod 11,914 and, finally, Farnworth has 15,159.

So what does Kearsley lack compared to the others? Answer: A library and town hall. So, Peter, think before you comment on an area you appear to know little about.

Stephen Tonge Station Road Kearsley