REFERENCE the article ‘Hopes to bring building back to life’ published in the Times, May 26. We, along with many, many other Tavistock residents, are outraged that this significant historical regency building in Church Lane, Tavistock, designed by John Foulston has been left to crumble despite being owned by a significant Tavistock estate agent for the best part of 100 years.

Although there have been many approaches to both rent and purchase this building, instead, the ‘owner’ has allowed it to remain vacant resulting in its present state of appalling decay.

Surely, any grant money would be more appropriately awarded to local community buildings such as Kingdon House; a fine example of arts and crafts in Pym Street, which has been left to benefit the community and has been desperately trying to find funding for restoration and improvement for this very popular, community centre.

Let us get our priorities right.

Scott Russell and Mrs P Bates