DAVE?GRYLLS, of Wolverton Drive, Kingsteignton, writes:

Please understand I am no builder and do not profess to be. I respect all tradesmen and if the electric fails I call an electrician.

I am, however, rather puzzled. Surely if you have stone built buildings, these are then considered to be long lasting and struturally sound.

I have recently taken several photographs of the now closed Newton Abbot General Hospital, just as a matter of local interest.

Several parts of these buildings started off as the Union Workhouse and, through the years, several extensions have occurred.

Its uses over the years have been varied and numerous. In the second world war it even housed injured French sailors.

The buildings now look sad and all boarded up, but nevertheless most appear to be structurally sound.

I assume the NHS owns the buildings, which are currently up for sale, and would hope to realise as much money as possible. Bearing in mind the state of the NHS, this is understandable.

Will these buildings be demolished to make way for some cheap tatty shortlived buildings? Or is a better, cheaper prospect to gut the insides and refurbish the interiors?

Several of the buildings, as I recall, have particularly high ceilings, which could perhaps make way for an additional floor.

With the right developer, 12 months' hard work could see the housing list in the town at least halved, depending on where the money is coming from.

It does seem as though it could be the cheapest option either way, not least because we value this green and pleasant land we live in. Anyone out there with a spare billion or two pouunds? I have since learned that several of these buildings are Grade II listed, so hopefully will be protected.

However, any interior development could be quite costly as some of the buildings contain asbestos and need specialist removal. Perhaps this in turn will make any future developer somewhat cautious as to the final cost of development.

The most worrying aspect is that these buildings should remain empty for an exceptionally long period of time and that they could wind up in the same state as the United Dairies building in East Street once did.

I certainly do not have the answers but I really do care about the town I grew up in.MORE LETTERS ONLINE