IN response to Coun Martin Eager's letter (Your Letters, March 15) and Coun Tony Rees' similar view reported last month, we are wholly with them in being against such a scheme.

Doubtless, as another councillor said, there have been adaptations to the Market House over the centuries, and the timber staircase may be a Victorian addition (Do you really suppose they had to use a ladder before that?) But it is a fine feature in itself, well graded, not steep and fully in keeping with the building's original character.

A glassed-in lift would be an alien intrusion of quite a different order.

What if a later town council were to decide to meet elsewhere after all?

Was it not reported that the 2004 requirements could be waived in the case of certain outstanding old buildings where suitable adaptations would be difficult?

There is yet a further objection, which never seems to be noted, vandalism.

Not so many weeks ago the Ledbury Reporter carried several items under this heading against public facilities and property in Ledbury, now here comes a costly new scheme to provide a prime target, right in the place where, as Coun Eager says, people congregate every night.

How soon? Next morning? Glass everywhere!

Will councillors voting for this risky scheme be on hand to clear it all up? Our council's damage repair fund will be fully used, and perhaps not only once.

Architects can produce excellent schemes on paper, but it is one of the worst comments on our current society that vandalism and wanton breakage has to be almost the number one factor in any consideration or planning of town amenities; especially glass. Don't do it.

English Heritage's agreement to this scheme in principle seems totally amazing.

Probably they aren't thinking of human factors such as vandalism.

MICHAEL & CATHERINE WARD, Victoria Road, Ledbury.