Is this man for real?

DURING the last few months quite a few district councillors have gone into print to extol the virtues of a new Pathfinder House. Will it be named thus? Maybe - maybe not. The war was a long time ago and memories fade. It could be called "Jolly Holley House" - no, Pathfinder House would be fine.

All those councillors who sang the praises of the new building cited their own reasons for doing so - bigger chambers, more room in which to write up their expense claims. Why, they have even employed a consultant to convince us that it is a good idea when most of us are confident that that is the last thing it is.

But the best excuse comes from the leader of the council, Ian Bates. Writing in In Touch with St Ives South he says: "We now have to replace Pathfinder House. Most office buildings have a useful life of about 25 years. Pathfinder House will have been in service for 32 years by the time it is replaced."

Is this man for real? Has he done any research on this? Because he is so obviously wrong. I ask the question: is he really the leader of Huntingdonshire District Council?

Is he telling our younger generation that in 25 years time they will have to cough up £40 - 50million for a new Pathfinder House? You can all hear their comments, can't you?

But what about the old Pathfinder House? You know, the one with the original scaffolding round it to keep it from falling down.

Well, how about this? In my opinion, once the new building is up, the scaffolding will come down. Someone will say: "Sorry, we have decided that it's not dangerous". A consultant will be engaged at vast expense to convince us of this and then - well, the empires within the council will grow, everyone will want more space and many more staff.

And the Council Tax? Oh, that will double but you can all afford it, can't you?

JACK WETHERELL, Robbs Walk, St Ives