THERE have been a number of letters from Kidderminster Civic Society in the Shuttle/Times and News, defending it against criticism since its actions resulted in the listing of the Piano Building on architectural "merit".

In one of them it was explained that another of the society's aims is to have an input on forthcoming buildings for our town, so I wonder if the soon-to-be-completed Kidderminster College is one such example.

If so, I find it hard to understand why the new building has been allowed to be positioned so close to the library, thereby totally obscuring the upper architecture of the latter's south side.

There is also the question of why the upper exterior walls of the new college have been designed to have a rendering of cement for it will need to be painted on a regular basis if the building is not to quickly look shabby.

Indeed, it is showing such signs even before the college has opened, and a long horizontal crack is already clearly visible in the rendering on the upper right front of the new building.

Also, a vertical line of brickwork above right of the main entrance is not true.

Even withstanding the points I have raised, the building's overall exterior design does not give one much confidence in the quality of future architecture for our town.

DAVID GUEST,

Hurcott Road, Kidderminster