Letter: Missed opportunities at County Hall

From Dr Katharine Watson

Sir: Clearly, County Hall derives its potential value from its position; the building would not be worth much in, say, the middle of the Nevada desert. In other words, it owes its importance and value to our presence - to the presence of London and Londoners around it. Yet Takashi Shirayama [the present owner] is apparently allowed to hold this asset, whose value we create, out of use for as long as he pleases.

It is probably too much to hope that any of the political parties will ever adopt it as a policy; but, at a stroke, site-value taxation would solve this matter in a manner not only in accordance with natural justice, but also financially most advantageous to this country.

Yours faithfully,

KATHARINE WATSON

Richmond, Surrey

6 April