I RECENTLY visited Bishop Auckland and had my first encounter with the ‘Observation Tower.’ Bishop Auckland has a fine French-style Town Hall, a very handsome building.

Nearby is an elegant gateway to Auckland Castle; buildings on that site date back to the 12th century.

The former is Grade II listed, the latter Grade I.

There are various buildings nearby which are also listed.

So why, in the name of sanity, is this hideous monstrosity of an observation tower and welcome centre being built in the midst of all these wonderful old buildings?

It is totally out of place and should not be there.

At a time of austerity, to spend £2.5million on this ghastly thing is in my opinion vandalism and will ruin the look of the market place.

Did the people of Bishop Auckland request it, or is it being foisted upon them?

Do they like it or detest it?

This ‘thing’ – I won’t grace it with the name ‘building’ - is an obscene abomination and should be terminated forthwith.

As for a ‘welcome centre,’ there are surely plenty of empty properties nearby which could have been utilised – for far less money. I am utterly disgusted.

James C Madgin, Durham