I have considerable sympathy with Cllr James Airey’s criticism of South Lakeland District Council’s spending of almost half a million pounds on a derelict building (Gazette, June 25, ‘Business hub spending row’).

We only have to consider the problems surrounding K Village and the Westmorland Shopping Centre to appreciate his concern for the taxpayer.

I ask myself, considering the effort to make the area a World Heritage Site and with the number of high quality hotels attracting a wealthy clientele also in the area, why are business and business organisations not flocking to establish themselves in Kendal?

Sadly I am unable to give a clear answer but it will not be solved by investing in a derelict building in the centre of Kendal.

Mel Mackie

High Casterton