The Mack is Glasgow's Arc de Triomphe. It must be restored

In contrast to Lesley P Lyon and DP Miller (Letters, March 27), your series confirms my belief that the Mack is more than an art school or another historical building of architectural merit. It is Glasgow's icon, as much as the Arc de Triomphe is to Paris. It is irreplaceable and its value to the city is incalculable. It must be reconstructed.

I offer two comparisons to those who disagree. First, on March 15 you reported on the award-winning refurbishment of Paisley Museum costing £45 million "recognising the significant role the project is playing in the town and wider region’s cultural regeneration", including a further £29m spent on refurbishing its Town Hall and Library.

Second, Barcelona's Sagrada Familia is recently reported to be close to completion, having been funded by tourists, including myself, visiting the construction site over the past few decades. The Mack may not be as big a draw but, with vision and belief, it stands a fighting chance of attracting support that will benefit Glasgow and Scotland for decades to come.

David Bruce, Troon.

A neo-Mack rebuild

YOU are to be saluted for your in-depth reporting of the sorry state of the remains of the Mackintosh School of Art, at present under scaffolding and white plastic like some embalmed cadaver. In 2012 I took French friends to visit the school, before its fiery fate. We were taken round the school by a graduate guide, shown the treasured library and Mackintosh-designed furniture. My friends were impressed at Glasgow's contribution to Art Nouveau design.

Two years later the first fire struck: this clearly showed the vulnerability of the Mack's Victorian building to fire, especially when the source was in the basement and the flames could spread up through the timber floors and wall panelling. Firemen were promptly on the scene; damage, though extensive, was restricted. Being a Grade A listed building, it had to be reinstated faithfully, although sprinklers were to be incorporated; it would have been advisable to take other measures (concrete floors, say?) to limit fire spread. Until 2014, the building had a charmed life: two former students told me that in their day there was a pottery kiln (fire hazard) in the basement. In any case, restoration was deemed feasible; George Osborne pledged funds, and southern yellow pine timber for the decorative roof structure was sourced in a disused cotton mill in USA. The rebuild proceeded with gusto; friends who visited the school near completion of the repairs were impressed.

The second fire was a body blow; to misquote Wilde, if losing the Mack once was a misfortune, losing it twice sounds like carelessness.

Glasgow has not always been kind to its historic buildings: witness the shell of "Greek" Thomson's Caledonian church. Meanwhile two other schools designed by Mackintosh are in unfashionable (Scotland Street primary school) or inaccessible (Martyrs' School) locations. However, Hill House in Helensburgh is open again after treatment for damp; House for an Art Lover may point the way - a neo-Mack rebuild?

Graeme Orr, Neilston.

Glasgow School of Art Fires: Find all articles in the series here

Read more: Glasgow School of Art site should be sold and redeveloped

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EVs: be sure to do your research

HANG on, Carlos Alba ("My electric car has given me a shock", The Herald, March 27): what you say about running an electric car in central Glasgow does not necessarily relate to experiences elsewhere.

I live on the outskirts of Dundee and own an electric car produced by a well-regarded South Korean car manufacturer. The car is advertised as having a range of around 256 miles. If I drive the car carefully I can easily do more than this; I even reached 300 miles once. In the winter the range is only reduced by a few per cent, though putting the heater on for extended periods does affect the range. The answer, wear a thick fleece.

The car has done nearly 50,000 miles and there is very little loss of range. I charge it at home for about 9p a kwh which means I get my 256 miles for about £6, a third of the cost of a petrol or diesel car. And, of course, if I want it to, my standard-model electric car can out-accelerate many of the much more expensive conventional fuel-driven vehicles and it produces no toxic fumes.

So, Mr Alba, it’s all question of circumstance with regards to the viability of owning an electric car. Instead of bleating about your situation I would suggest a little more research before you buy your next car. As regards contracts and trying to get out of them, the old adage "buyer beware" is surely appropriate.

To your general readers, please don’t assume that Mr Alba’s experiences will necessarily be your own. Do your research, be realistic about whether you can charge your car at home and, as always, read the small print.

John Palfreyman, Coupar Angus.

Talking shop

YOUR business section tells us that Morton Fraser and MacRoberts is moving to new headquarters in Haymarket Square, Edinburgh ("Edinburgh head office move revealed for newly-merged law company", The Herald, March 26). The new office is to be open plan and has been “purposely designed to facilitate an environment of meaningful collaboration and in-person interaction between people and teams across the business”.

Does this legal jargon mean staff will be able to speak to each other?

Alan M Morris, Blanefield.

Electric cars can be a boon (Image: PA)

Rubbish idea

REGARDING John Jamieson's letter (March 26) about removing annoying animals from his garden I quite agree. But the same tactics for the people he associates with in pubs is not on.

I would recommend talking rubbish to keep them away. It works for me.

Rab Neilson, Ayr.

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Initial concern

I SUGGEST that Bill Stewart's National Isosceles Trapezium Sausage Day (Letters, March 27), otherwise NITS Day, might be somewhat terrifying, or, dare I say, hair-raising. Sorry.

David Miller, Milngavie.