Re: Accrington Town Hall unveils £750k ballroom restoration (LT, January 23).

The newly-refurbished ballroom in the town hall is officially the town’s jewel in its crown at a meagre cost of £750,000 This, while the rest of the town is on its knees. There’s the once-thriving market, not to mention Homebase and Marks & Spencer, who have decided to pull out, and all the empty shops lining Blackburn Road and Peel Street.

Where will this all end? I remember, as a young child, visiting Accrington nearly every Saturday with my parents as it was a vibrant shopping centre with a market full of character.

Now it is a shadow of its former self. Surely this money could have been put to better use promoting the town.

Mrs L M Jackson, Blackburn (via email)