I WRITE to add my opinion about the proposed cuts in local expenditure but specifically those that may affect the Palace Youth Theatre.

The Palace Theatre, as everyone knows, in undergoing extensive refurbishment (as was necessary) but includes development of a studio and other facilities for the use by the young.

It now seems absurd to curb the activities of the group as this facility is being built.

Only recently, Tony Blair delivered his plan on "Respect" that parents and children alike should adopt.

I wholeheartedly agree but parenting is not wholly dependent on the parents/carers but on the communities in which they live.

Parenting is a very hard, demanding but rewarding responsibility in life but parents need facilities to aid development of confidence, skills and socialisation of their children.

Redditch is not a pinnacle of excellence when facilities for children's social activities come into question, in my opinion.

Not all children like traditional sport and it always seems this is the predominant facility provided locally for our children.

A lot of children are very creative and theatre is one of the modes where they can develop this.

The Palace Youth Theatre has not been a handout, we have had to pay a reasonable fee for our children to attend but it has been excellent in developing the above skills.

One could be sarcastic and say they could pursue other facilities, such as the cinema (oh no, that is now a drinking establishment for adults) or go to the Megabowl (oh no, that is now a housing estate) or look forward to the leisure centre (how many years have we heard about that idea and not a brick in place?)

Redditch town centre at night is not a place I would want my children to go as there is nothing for them there but alcohol and potential violence.

If we want our children to grow up with respect and responsibility, then we have to facilitate it by what activities are provided and the council needs to put its money where its mouth is.

The risk now also to the countryside centre and Forge Mill Museum I think only shows the council has little regard for our young and creativity.

What seems to be available in Redditch is a lot of ASBOs. I wonder why?

LORRAINE HILL

Western Hill Close

Astwood Bank