Empire could be worth
£millions ... in the right hands

Readers have written in and confirm what experts have said: -- the Neath Empire building, a ready made structure, could be worth £millions in the right hands.   Further more, it could produce £millions on a regular basis with an application that would benefit Neath residents.

The freehold is currently owned by Swansea Coastal Housing who have planning permission to demolish it and build 12 social houses at street level.

An expert told us that if the cost of demolition was applied to refurbishment, the building would thrive as a much need art and craft centre in this day and age of youth unemployment.

The expert, a mastercraftsmen, said that youngsters of today need to be taught to use their hands and relate to work produced by previous generations before automated machines diluted manual skills.   He said that he could not understand why this was not considered until this last minute, adding it would put Neath way ahead of any other community in the UK.

Investing in the younger generation now would benefit the future - and no-one can dispute that.

PS  ...    It would make sense if Neath Councillors asked Swansea Coastal Housing to defer the imminent demolition until independent experts are called in to assess the building for an art and craft centre.  If this were done, we hope that the council's planning department, who seem rather blinkered at the moment, will wave a green flag for progress.