SO, as reported, a massive £8.7 million spending programme in Redditch over a period of three years has been given the green light.

In July 2000, the headlines were "Town to get £64 million bonanza" for improvements.

This sum has since reduced to £60 million. After deductions of £51.6 million for the necessary spending on the 7,000 housing stock over five years, we are left with only £8.4 million to be spent over three years.

The cost is so thinly spread that the projects are likely to go unnoticed.

The town centre is in urgent need of a suitably sized auditorium, community centre and reception atria and these refurbishment proposals should be integrated with the Edwardian architecture of the Palace Theatre.

As Councillor David Cartwright is reported as saying: "Plans to upgrade the theatre into a major arts centre, including workshops and conference centre, will be included in the council's plans."

This is unlikely with a budget of £1 million.

I suggest the council increases the sum to £5 million in order to provide a high standard venue that Redditch so desperately needs.

Eric Rochester

Runcorn Close

Greenlands