REGARDING the remarks of Mr L Lawes (Letters, September 26) about many thousands of pounds being spent on the renovation of the Pavilions in Church Street, Blackburn, while the ornate block of Victorian buildings in Preston New Road is to be demolished, I think the Council has got its priorities wrong.

Surely, the preference should be to spend some of the money given by the government to preserve run-down areas and historical buildings. The block of shops in Preston New Road used to be the pride of Blackburn, with its wonderful terracotta brickwork.

We have lost many of our Victorian and Georgian buildings through the poor wisdom of the Labour-run council. A fine example was the old ornamental Telegraph building that was torn down.

Another was the old High School for Girls on Preston New Road -- another fine, ornate building demolished along with many others in the town centre.

Preston and Bolton and even Accrington have had the common sense to preserve their historical buildings for future generations.

I have lived in Blackburn all my life and have never seen the town in such a run-down state. Even visitors who have come back to Blackburn after emigrating to Australia and Canada have made remarks about it in your letters page.

LESLIE BURROWS, Bonsall Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn.