Alison Murdoch, chairman, Save the Kings Arms, of Church Street, Kingsbridge, writes:

Your front page reported that the Chamber of Commerce ­considers the Kings Arms ‘not viable’ as a hotel, Gazette, March 18, and that it made this point

at a recent meeting with a ­representative of the Reuben brothers, who own the building.

However, the Chamber of Commerce does not speak for Kingsbridge, and especially not for the 630 local people who signed a recent petition asking that every effort be made to retain a hotel and community function space at the heart of the town.

The Save the Kings Arms campaign has now attracted an impressive group of professionals and we disagree with the Chamber of Commerce.

Around the country dozens of similar buildings have been returned to community use – and in some cases, to community ownership.

Future generations will not thank us for squandering Kingsbridge’s heritage without even looking at the alternatives.

The campaign calls on the mayor and the town council to promote an imaginative, ­vigorous and wide-ranging public debate about how a ­rejuvenated Kings Arms could contribute to the life and ­economy of the town and surrounding area – not least in creating employment.

Sensible time needs to be given to proper public and ­professional examination of all possible options, instead of rushing into a deal that turns another of our historic ­buildings into flats and simply makes more profit for the Reuben brothers.