MALVERN Hills District Council continues to make a dog's breakfast of its responsibilities to the arts and culture of the area.

If it had implemented just one key recommendation, an Arts Forum, from its commissioned (but entirely neglected) £25,000 enquiry into the arts, there would be no need for two of the towns most distinguished artists to have to write to the Malvern Gazette pointing out the council's obvious shortcomings.

Who is the council consulting with regard to the placing and conservation of the sculptures "Jenny Lind", 'Elgar' et al? From what she writes they don't seem to be taking much notice of Rose Garrard who is more informed and better qualified to advise on the matter than the council deserves.

Like Peter Smith I think that the Arts Council is pretty useless. But even that source of sustenance to artists and arts organisations is effectively closed off by the stance of MHDC which obdurately fails to have any policy or strategy.

DAVID PRENTICE, Hanley Terrace, Malvern Wells.