Much has been said recently in local papers and news about the stables in Sion Mills, even more so now that the inevitable had happened and the clock tower has collapsed due to years of neglect and vandalism (including bomb damage that was never repaired following attacks on the nearby police station).

What amazes many of us in the village is how "shocked" and "saddened" people are. These people that have been vocal in the newspapers and radio recently seem very surprised at what has happened.

What have you been looking at for the last 20 years that they did not see this coming? For many of us who go past the stables on a daily basis, this has come as no shock. The place has been deteriorating for years and it is not only the owner's fault but those in authority who should also take responsibility for allowing this once beautiful building to get into such a state .

My solution to the problem would be to spare the village even more embarassment and demolish this eyesore. What is the point in the estimated £500,000 to restore it when there is no viable use for a stble-block in modern day living. The money should be spent elsewhere in the village for the benifit of all the residents, not just a privileged few.

However, the one burning question on everyone's mind is this: Celia Ferguson, speaking for the Herdman family, was quoted on the BBC News 24 website on May 27, saying "The villagers contributed towards that clock – it was half paid for by the village, and I know my father was very worried when the works were taken out of it because he said it belonged to the village." Then why did the Herdmans sell something that did not fully belong to them? How they can now suddenly be concerned and outraged is beyond belief.

I don't ever recall the village being compensated following the sale of the building in the late 1960s. It is very apparent that the present generation of Herdmans are living on the past glories of their ancestors. They have done nothing to help the people of Sion; on the contrary, they closed down the mill, making many residents redundant with little or no alternative employment to go to, whilst lining their own pockes. How much rent is paid to Herdmans for leasing of the mill premises?

It is quite unbelievable that a small self-appointed group – The Sion Mills Building Preservation Trust – headed by Celia Ferguson, wants to spend tens of millions of pounds on restoring the old mill after letting it get into a similar state as the stble-block. It is less than 20 years since they built the "new" mill with a £17-million grant and the place hasn't lasted, leaving a lot of us out of work.

The Sion people have suffered enough with unemployment, the rise in crime and under-funding for local aminities. The last thing we need is another white elephant in the middle of the village costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. The money would be better spent helping the recreational club out of their financial difficulties or on giving the village some decent amenities which could benifit a wider range of people. And let's hope someone in authority will have the sense to demolish this eyesore. The sooner the better.

A Sion Mills Resident

(Name and address supplied)