I HAVE just come from a town meeting which approved £50,000 to be given to the Greig sports hall development from the rates, with a desire to increase this to £150,000.

While I agree with this, I was also aware that most speakers wanted money spent on the main hall and not the sports hall, even if the new one will contain more community space than the present one.

I am left with a feeling of disquiet. We were told the revenue from the new sports hall will pay for the repair of the main hall in five years time. If it does not, we may lose the main hall.

Isn't this a somewhat risky strategy? We were reminded that the Charity Commission only allows very safe investments, so it might also be in favour of very safe development strategies too.

The safest course would surely be to leave the sports hall as it is, repair and re-equip the main hall to bring it up to date in all respects and build some new terrapin huts to replace the ones now at the end of their life?

This, combined with extensive staff cuts, should leave the Greig Centre financially viable and similar in structure to how it used to be before expensive management had to be paid for.

It's just an idea and does not exactly improve the facilities as much as the present plan does but it seems much less risky, lessening "the chance of losing everything," which we were warned about.

It might also provide for a Youth Hut, which does not appear on the plan at present.

After all, the Greig is a charity and not a business and should be run at minimum risk. The way our Town Hall is run is a good example, as is the Trades and Labour Club.

"Cut your coat according to your cloth" is a good maxim, which should be followed by those in charge of our heritage in the town. It can be done!

Jonathan 'Bill' Bayley

Henley Street

Alcester