I CANNOT for the life of me understand what all this fuss about the Revidge Tank is about.

As a resident of Blackburn all of my life, I have been up to the tank many times and, as I see it, the town can only benefit from having this ugly eyesore torn down.

Is an old water tank the best thing in Blackburn worth preserving or worth so much newspaper coverage?

What about the many old buildings allowed to slowly fall apart in the town centre, such as the old police station at the bottom of Montague Street? And where are the blue plaque brigade, or rather the self-appointed Civic Society, when it comes to the town's other landmarks? I don't remember seeing one of their plaques on the town's old infirmary on Princes Street, which is surely of more significance than an old water tank. In any case, the Revidge Tank seems to be the sole preserve of teenagers who congregate there to do things they probably shouldn't be doing.

Why should North West Water be expected to foot the massive bill for renovating this rusting hulk, when they could employ their resources better in creating a new reservoir in order to prevent water shortages next summer.

Alternatively, the council could use the tank as a fuel store for the use of the emergency services in the event of another fuel crisis. They could even round up some of the local urchins who have spent their time vandalising the tank in assisting to renovate it.

The tank should be dismantled right away and a new structure built there, affording views over the town. Darwen has its locally-renowned tower, so maybe Blackburn should have one too. After all, it's got to be better than a smelly old water tank.

J REEVES, Cheltenham Road, Blackburn.