SIR – In many ways this is a pointless exchange with Mr Delaney (Letters, January 4). He appears unwilling to grasp the point that the Odeon, or any replacement of it, is not wanted by anyone at this time on a commercial basis nor is it required as an architectural masterpiece.

Certainly there has been no suggestion of some kind of public appeal to provide the finance to do this. In the meantime the weather continues to do expensive damage.

We are, therefore, left with the fact that nobody wishes to pay for redevelopment at this time hence my practical suggestion of what we can actually do now.

As to Mr Delaney’s other comments, it was ironic that in the same edition of your paper, Urban Splash Ltd – the developers of Lister’s Mill – were said to be “talking to their bankers” because they too are in some kind of financial “difficulty”, and it remains to be seen what the outcome of that will be.

The Swan Arcade was demolished because the building had reached the end of its life and Kirkgate Market was demolished because the owners – the City – had the same view.

R G Jennings FRICS, Priestley Hall, Lady Park Avenue, Bingley