Sir,

I've just read that the former Cat & Fiddle pub could be demolished if the Borough Council have their way. The near 200 year old building is a landmark and part of Hatfield's rich heritage, yet the remote WGC biased Borough Council see no value in preserving it. The building is clearly structurally sound and was in use just a few months ago before speculative builders bought it for conversion for residential use - most probably for student accommodation.

The Borough Council have also recently allowed the destruction of Hatfield's Art Deco cinema. They could easily have insisted its facade was kept - but didn't. Needless to say, the old cinema is being converted for more student occupation too.

It seems to me that this Borough Council are hell bent on cramming as much of the new housing requirements for the WelHat area on to Hatfield, regardless of the consequences. This is probably done simply to preserve WGC.  It is nothing short of spiteful cultural vandalism. 

I shall be watching closely to see if our Town Council will prevent the unnecessary demolition of the building. It should only be converted internally. There is no need to destry it.

Yours, Alan Johnstone