n Chris Jaeger wants everyone to stop discussing the closure of the Swan Theatre (Evening News, April 5).

However, an act of such cultural and economic vandalism cannot, and should not, be forgotten that easily.

The city and county has lost forever a professional producing theatre, with all its community, creative and educational benefits; the Arts Council's investment of more than £200,000 per year in the arts in Worcester has ceased; and the tourist economy has suffered a serious blow.

This was an irresponsible act, brought about by the Conservatives on Worcester City Council, with little thought for the long-term consequences and no respect for the wishes of the people of Worcester.

This irresponsibility was compounded with a lack of transparency when the city council miraculously found the money that had been withdrawn from the Swan Theatre to support Chris Jaeger's bid to run the theatre as a limited facility for amateur and touring companies.

None of this should be forgotten, and Stephen Inman and his Conservative Party colleagues need to be held to account for their vandalism in the forthcoming council elections.

GERALD HARRIS,

Chairman of the Board,

Worcester Arts (Swan Theatre) Ltd.