Letter - Brunton Hall should be saved 'at all costs'

This building must be saved. I look hard at this building every time I pass it and have decided it has great presence.

The more I look, the more I appreciate the way the bulk of the building is broken up into blocks, as the eye moves along its facades. I look at the concrete panels and see that they are carefully manufactured to give subtle colour and texture. I admire the fine golden sculpture as it announces the presence of this building on the main approach to Musselburgh. I think of all its cultural content and how much it has meant to us all over many, many years of enjoyment.

The refurbishment and the associated artworks – the wonderful stained glass, improved seating arrangements and the fine acoustics in the main hall – gave it a new lease of life, and I could weep that all this is to be brutally razed to the ground. Whatever happened to the concept of civic pride?

Now rumour has it that the site is destined for commercial redevelopment and not used to replace our theatre facilities.

This building is not East Lothian Council’s to dispose of as it will, for commercial gain. It was funded in part by the Musselburgh Common Good Fund and by the generosity of the Brunton family. This is not an asset that is to be disposed of to swell the council’s coffers.

What is Musselburgh going to get out of these decisions? A cheap back-street tin theatre somewhere in the town, which seems to be today’s approach to throwing up buildings.

The likely outcome for Musselburgh will be a derelict hole in the ground for 10 years in the current climate.

Joni Mitchell was right when she sang “you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone”.

This building should be saved at all costs.

Frances Stevens

Musselburgh