FOR years, we have been advocating some form of 'riverside renaissance' in Worcester.

This column has been used on countless occasions to argue the merits of substantial investment in an area that has been neglected for far too long.

A key part of this area is, of course, Pitchcroft.

Worcester Racecourse - rated as the worst in the country by The Times in 2003 - has long been in need of a makeover.

When Arena Leisure took over running the facility in 1999, with promises of a hotel and a new grandstand, we were full of hope.

Of course, more than five years later, nothing has changed. Arena scrapped its plans because they would never make enough profit. The racecourse remains the same.

We have always argued that the people of the Faithful City deserved better. But, following a spate of vandal attacks on the course, maybe we were wrong.

Yes, Pitchcroft is desperately in need of investment. But what company is going to put its hand in its pocket to upgrade a site that is regularly set on fire?

However, as course director Derek Prodger says, giving in to vandals is never an option.

Worcester Racecourse is a site of great potential and, we hope, will one day be a credit to the people of this city.

But before we can attempt to persuade businesses or local authorities to invest millions in new facilities, we need to treat the existing ones with respect.