WHY have a referendum on the Imax (Echo 29th) when it will be impossible to tell everyone the exact cost of any changes; people will vote with their heart and not their head. If councils have anything to do with the building, costs will triple.

They always do.

Remember the surf fiasco, how it went up and up, and once they start they have to finish it. They talk as if it is like cutting the top off a sponge cake.

Changing a building is always more expensive than building new, the architect’s fee alone will be over £50,000 and the builder with no set contract due to unknown problems will think he has won the Lottery.

It would not be so bad if with the changes they could guarantee the view, but they can’t, coming down the hill with half a building will still be higher than a car and will still obstruct the view.

So what is the point? Half a building, half the rent, half the council tax – councillors should think again.

Forget changing it – if they have a million to spare, spend half of it on a prize for the best architect’s design, and the other half for a developer to put into practice at the earliest opportunity to get rid of the whole dreadful Imax.

KEN ADAMS, Glen Road, Poole