A STRANGE proposal seems to be gathering support following the forecast closure of the Swan Theatre.

Suggestions have been made in the pages of the Evening News that when/if the Swan closes what Worcester needs is a "New Swan Theatre" and arts centre on some other site. Have those who support such an idea really thought about how it could possibly be afforded and how it would fit in with the local arts venues?

A new theatre would require large sums of capital to build it. Who will pay? The city council? A new larger theatre would require increased sums of grant aid money each year to fund it, way beyond the really small amount the Swan costs. Who will pay?

The city council clearly won't. A new larger theatre will have to find new audiences to fill it way above the currently attending the Swan, who struggle to fill the current 353 seats. Where will they come from?

A new theatre and arts centre, as has been suggested, would need to suck in large sums of money in grant aid each year. This offers the prospect of taking such funds way from Huntingdon Hall and the Arts Workshop, which are already vibrant and successful venues in their own right, but who still rely on grant aid support.

Would supporters of a "New Swan" wish to see those organisations closed, or is it more likely that they have not thought through the ramifications of their enthusiastic proposals.

ROB PEACHEY, Worcester.