THE debate in your columns prompted by the attempted demolition of the Clarence Street building and the design proposed for the new Bath Street car park continues to fascinate.

I must, however, disagree with Stephen Ramsden (Letters, November 24) in his criticism of Victoria Square.

While I have no particular admiration for the terrace of shops on the east side of the square, in my opinion, the Mothercare block which replaced the Commercial Hotel is crisp and elegant, and Paderborn House illustrates what can be done to create a building which is visually interesting without shouting at the splendid magnificence of the Town Hall and Crescent.

Further afield, I share his admiration of the cuckoo-clock architecture of St. George’s Court — except for the blue facing panels which, as the late Cllr Kevan Hornby pointed out in Housing Committee at the time, will shout in perpetuity at all of the surrounding buildings.

However, Kensington Court, opposite, should in my considered opinion have been left in Legoland, where it belongs. And I would give a small prize to anyone who would demolish the former Blind School building, with its hideously overbearing and ill-proportioned mansard roof.

I must, however, exonerate the council from any blame for the Crown Court building.

This was designed by Home Office architects, and erected under Crown prerogative, which meant that it did not need planning permission. Bolton’s planners at the time tried to persuade the Home Office to alter the design, and make it less harsh, only to be rebuffed by the architect in charge with the immortal reply: “Number one, I want to make a statement!"

I think I can work out the statement he had in mind.

Peter Johnston, Kendal Road, Bolton