St George's Hall has served Bradford well since it was opened in 1853 as a high-class concert hall worthy of a booming town which was bursting with civic pride. Over the years it has fulfilled many functions over and above its intended role as an orchestral and operatic venue.

It has been a cinema. It has echoed to the oratory of politicians, the grunts and groans of wrestlers and the laughter prompted by top comedians. It has seen geographical lectures, school speech days and (particularly since the closure of the Library Theatre) amateur operatics. Its walls and pillars have been shaken by the vibration caused by major rock bands.

However, many now feel that St George's is inadequate for the needs of a city which has serious aspirations to be designated European Capital of Culture 2008. They claim that what was prestigious 149 years ago is beginning to look ill-suited to the 21st century.

Given that body of opinion, it is right that the future of the hall should be looked at in the context of a study into the feasibility of building a new regional concert hall to replace it, possibly - as has been suggested - in the Exchange Court development on the car park between the Crown Court and the Victoria Hotel.

If it is decided, at the end of the day, that St George's is to be replaced, there should be no question of this fine building being left to decay. It is an important part of Bradford's cultural heritage and must be found a key role to play in its cultural future.