RAYMOND Goldstone (letters, 15 September) accuses me of impatience and of having little good to say about Blackburn. Yes, I am impatient -- impatient for the planned redevelopment of Blackburn town centre and impatient to see the rot stopped before Blackburn sinks into oblivion.

While it is fair comment that Blackburn lost many of its more distinctive Victorian buildings in the redevelopment of the 1960s and 70s, many gems still remain. With thought and care, redevelopment and inward investment in the town centre has the potential to enhance and preserve what remains of Blackburn's heritage.

Blackburn boasts Lancashire's only cathedral and that should be a building that gives a presence and individuality to the town centre.

Would York or Canterbury hide away their respective cathedrals behind an impassable road system, which discouraged visitors? -- I think not.

It is pointless to bemoan Blackburn's lost heritage -- no matter how sad this may be. The past is past and we can't bring it back. Now is the time to look forward and plan for Blackburn's future.

Mr Goldstone's comment about Blackburn's lack of individuality seems to me to be exactly the type of "doing down" that he purports to oppose. "Speaking up for Blackburn" doesn't bring the developers -- if it did we would have had a Lord Square redevelopment years ago.

Developers only come when the see opportunities that make redevelopment worthwhile and I think the Council's proposals for Blackburn town centre do just that.

JUDITH MOSS, 110 Columbia Way, Blackburn.