Save Butlins Minehead medical centre and laundrette

We, the undersigned, wish to register our serious concern at the proposal to demolish the Medical Centre and Laundrette buildings at Butlins Minehead in January 2011.

One of the reasons we have always been loyal customers of Butlins Minehead is that it is still very nearly as Sir Billy Butlin originally designed it complete with most of the original buildings, and the layout of the camp remains largely as it was originally. This embodies many precious memories of extremely happy holidays we have all shared over many years, and numerous generations of our families have likewise enjoyed such holidays.

Minehead is now the only remaining Butlins camp which is still open as Butlins, and still remains structurally intact. As such we feel very strongly that the camp is of significant national historic importance and must be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The two buildings which are scheduled for demolition have largely remained unchanged since the camp was built in 1962, and still serve the same purpose they always did (except that the upper level of the Laundrette building is no longer used, but it was used as accommodation for visiting entertainers and as such it does contain extremely valuable history).

We are not opposed to all changes at Butlins, and we would support any sensible proposal to make better use of these buildings, and to upgrade them to modern standards. However we feel that it is of paramount importance that the history of the camp be respected and preserved as much as possible.

We respectfully ask that the management of Butlins delay their plans to demolish these buildings and give careful consideration to how they could instead be put to better use, and perhaps upgraded. We cannot over-emphasise how important this is to us, as loyal Butlins guests, and we hope that since the history of the camp is one of the main attractions for us, our views on this important matter will be given due consideration.