SIR, — I read with a heavy heart that the old Odeon cinema on London Road, St Albans, is finally to be demolished to make way for yet more flats. What a sad end to a beautiful building, which granted needs some tender loving care, but is by far the nicest

SIR, - I read with a heavy heart that the old Odeon cinema on London Road, St Albans, is finally to be demolished to make way for yet more flats. What a sad end to a beautiful building, which granted needs some tender loving care, but is by far the nicest building in the whole road and if restored would only add grandeur to this end of London Road which it sadly lacks.

This city badly needs a cinema and while the one planned for the city centre still has issues with height, parking spaces, flats etc etc, it's a shame to not restore what we have, especially as its frontage is listed. It's particularly interesting that arguments for not revitalising this cinema and its original closure hinged upon it being in the wrong place, when according to Tesco, this area is within walking distance of the city centre. Ironically if the proposed Tesco is built over the road, then a suitable car park would also be available for those wishing to use the cinema.

DAVID OFFER,

Cavendish Road, St Albans.