IN another lifetime I was responsible for strategic financial planning at the Leicestershire Area Health Authority.

I approved the £8million construction of a hospital, before 10 years later demanding its abolition costing £2m. The area and district managers thought I was mad and demanded my resignation. This paragraph is obviously untrue but resembles the ludicrous decision making at Bournemouth council re the demolition of the Imax Building!

Two and a half years ago I wrote to the now maligned Peter Charon. Rod Cooper, councillor for tourism, leisure and culture, then rang me to discuss the Imax. I found him interesting. His only original thought was to create a butterfly farm but this would do more to help the economy than a pile of rubble will.

The most sensible Echo letter I read from any councillor was from the objective Cllr Breckles of Bristol (June 18).

“Frankly if you want visitors to keep coming back then it pays if we are listened to. In Bristol we got our Imax re-used; Bournemouth just has a very expensive demolition site.”

Last year the trustees of Arundells had wanted to sell it. I helped persuade the chief executive of the Charity Commission that the home of former PM Ted Heath should remain as a tourist and leisure attraction. I, and others, could come up with some excellent feasible uses for the Imax to benefit the local economy.

What is the point though when the council leader John Beesley is happy to waste £13m on the Imax and surf reef but then says without quantification “uses such as a new swimming pool or ice stadium would be hugely expensive” (September 11). I agree a bandstand could be put anywhere (September 20).

Also the council initially approved the Imax construction and the BIC swimming pool. Are there no current councillors able to support their predecessors or with a better strategy than the present council?

DAVID H WELLS, Sopwith Crescent, Merley