Reading the letters about the arts centre published by the Echo recently, I would just remind/inform readers of the Dorchester Arts Centre's silence during the period leading up to Andrew Wadsworth's implementation of a vision of Brewery Square'.

During the years I served on DAC's board of directors I was increasingly ignored for mentioning the possibility of a theatre on Brewery Square - one of the reasons I grew frustrated.

Arts centre chairman Alistair Nisbet (Vital arts project won't just happen', Letters, May 10) is correct when he suggests that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the County Town'.

However, spending £20,000 of taxpayers money (£10,000 from WDDC and £10,000 from the Arts Council) on a study of how Dorchester Arts Centre can develop and grow into The Maltings', is indeed a squandering of resources.

Why? Because there are many in the arts community who even question the wisdom of the DAC occupying the theatre.

The Maltings use must be - if it is to succeed and return Wadsworth's substantial initial investment - as an arts/community centre, a place where, for example, Stephanie Dale and David Edgar's excellent community play, A Time to Keep, could have been performed.

Far from being negative', as Mr Nisbet describes it, Lorna Low (A better way to spend £10,000', Letters, May 8) expressed her frustration as, once again, the wheel is reinvented and scarce funds are spent on yet another unnecessary review for which the data has already been collected.

Surely it is time to clear the decks and have quality amateur and professional theatre which questions and searches for alternative reasons for our troubled times.

Ian Stuart, St. Helen's Road, Dorchester.