SIR - The same week as it was announced that Bradford ratepayers (not, note, Bradford Council) were to benefit from the airport sale to the tune of £58 million, I drove past Lister's Mill, admiring the beautifully-restored building.

Some four years ago it was a soot-blackened pile, with trees and shrubs growing from the roof and extensive water damage to its 26 acres of floor space, much like the present state of that much smaller but equally unique building, the New Victoria.

After a prolonged period of inaction, Yorkshire Forward came up with £4 million, topped up with £2 million from Bradford, to do enough initial restoration to Lister's to pass it on to an enlightened developer.

Now, after all the excuses they have made, with the huge windfall the airport sale has brought us, our Council should exercise the same duty of care they owe to the New Victoria.

There is now ample money in the ratepayers' kitty for the Council to at least do a "Lister's", but better still, take responsibility for the whole project and produce for the city the conference centre/concert hall it badly needs before we are once again upstaged by our neighbour Leeds.

Gordon Dean, Long Lane, Harden