Unfortunately, having only lived in the area for 35 years I never saw the old hospital building.

However, while Grasmere was built to the highest standards of design and construction available in the 1960s, I agree that it does not have the same level of presence or history as its predecessor.

It is therefore essential that we do not allow what is now a town landmark to be replaced by what will appear as a glass wall 90 feet by 60 feet high and become a blot on the landscape.

John Davis, Chairman, Grasmere Club,

Denmark Street

n So Diss traders are suffering because of the Market Hill road closure (Shops suffer more misery, Diss Express, May 15).

They will suffer even more if the plans to demolish Grasmere and build flats there go ahead.

Denmark Street will have to be closed for the work to go ahead and I hate to think how long this will take. This road is the main gateway to the town from the south and is also a major route linking the A1066 to places north of the town.

There are 8,000 traffic movements on the road which passes Grasmere every 24 hours. One haulier reckons that it will cost him an extra £1,000 for every week the road is closed.

If the development goes ahead, the cost to businesses in the town will run into thousands of pounds.

Will South Norfolk Conservative Association and the developers compensate them for their losses?

Brian Ager,

Factory Lane, Roydon

n The Grasmere Club members have been anxiously considering their future for some time.

Without an unaffordably large investment to secure, and upgrade the building, the owners see no alternative to selling the site for developemnt.

This will be a huge loss of a potential (as well as present) valuble town amenity.

Surely they could do better, than sell it for a housing project?

Considering that Grasmere was a gift to the Association, the least they can do is retain the spirit of the concept, by investing in a community project.

This could continue to afford space and leisure activities to the present groups, and to others as well.

Grasmere occupies a wonderful site, and it could be used to greater effect, if redeveloped.

Surely a way to do this commercially (if need be) could be found?

Mrs J M Dryburgh,

Hall Hills, Diss

n Regarding the redevelopment proposals for Grasmere, I note that a planning committee date has not yet been set at South Norfolk Council because the majority of district councillors belong to the South Norfolk Conservative Association, who are making the application.

How can the many people opposed to the scheme be confident of a ‘just’ outcome when there is such an obvious conflict of interest?

It is rumoured that the application might be heard by Breckland Council but, if this is the case, what do they know of the significance of the site to the town and other local implications of the scheme?

Alan Crowest,

Denmark Street, Diss