A warehouse built in the 1880s, its value as an iconic, colonial treasure, representative of 19th-century Georgian architecture, is slowly deteriorating, along with the edifice.

Either it becomes the facade of a new development or it must be pulled down. It has been an issue since 1990 and we seem incapable of dealing with it.

It must be a dangerous structure. It is opposite a major retailer and sits there in all its neglected glory for all tourists to see.

It has no charm or romantic quality. It looks like an abandoned, derelict structure in the old, faraway back streets of somewhere like 1950s industrial Glasgow.

A decade ago critics described it as a product of the usual heritage farce - a building subjected to all care and no responsibility. Nothing has changed.

Once again those concerned enough to save buildings never have to look after them. A set-and-forget culture, while ratepayers or taxpayers are left to pick up the tab.

The Launceston City Council should be lobbying the National Trust to settle this issue.

It is an embarrassment, occupying a prime city site with potential for both tourism and commercial usage but going nowhere. A crumbling wreck.

Even the heavy machinery deployed long ago to expedite development at the rear of the building's facade is developing rust and cobwebs.

Preserving a historic facade, to co- exist with new development, is a clever way to bridge the past with the future, but the C.H. Smith building is way past its usefulness on that front.

Yes, it was a crying shame to see magnificent architecture fall victim to the wrecking ball before our heritage became valuable, say, in the 1970s, but this building is beyond redemption.

Let's have a hard look at it and make a tough decision.

Either loosen the chains on its heritage value and let developers get a move on, or pull it down.