MR EDWARD Howells says “Caerphilly council offices in Pontllanfraith is now being demolished, where with a little common sense and thought applied by our councillors it could have been put to good use for the benefit of the community”, (letters, January 8). 

Mr Howells criticises me and others for not following up his schemes. Pontllanfraith’s three Labour councillors, Mike Adams, Colin Gordon and I opposed the closure of Pontllanfraith civic centre when this was first proposed. 

But it was decided to close the offices because they were riddled with asbestos and would have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to make safe. 

I’m sure Mr Howells wouldn’t have wanted to house vulnerable people in a building which could have caused them irreparable harm.

Cllr Gez Kirby
St Andrews Drive
Pontllanfraith