REGARDING your article of Thursday, October 25, reporting on the possible £4.5m cost of improvements to County Hall, I would like to add a few facts.

I must reassure readers that this is not a "done deal", but simply a bid for funds that will be considered alongside many other needs. We are all well aware of the under-funding experienced by Worcestershire County Council, and as a result it is difficult to see where such a significant amount could be found.

Of course, we will try to find the money, but any bid for funds will have to be vigorously examined and any money spent will have to be fully justified.

We must also remember that the county council is Worcestershire's biggest employer with an annual turnover of roughly £365m, and County Hall itself houses more than 800 members of staff.

Any organisation of this size would face a similar bill for maintenance.

COUN ADRIAN HARDMAN,

Portfolio-Holder for Resources,

County Hall.