SIR – Councillor Greenwood said that the Odeon should be retained, provided that it could be achieved on a sustainable and commercially viable basis (T&A, April 6).

The question is for what purpose?

Ideally it should be to promote cultural and leisure activities and these taken in the context of the building alone may not in the short term be viable. However a precedent has been established by the City Park whereby its cost of over £30m is sought to be justified by increased footfall and retail spin-off.

Ideally a business case should be made for the replacement of the original 3,200 seat auditorium. Compared with the 1,500 seats (some with poor sightlines) at Leeds Grand, the extra 1,700 seats would, more cost-effectively, pull in West End shows.

If Bradford is to rebuild its prestige, then let’s do it by having the biggest and best concert hall in the North.

With all the hotels that are being built, together with such a concert hall and ancillary facilitates, Bradford could market itself as a budget conference centre. We need to start again and legislate for success on the basis of what is best for Bradford as an integrated community.

John Pashley, Westcliffe Avenue, Baildon