I'm sorry Lorna Low is so negative about West Dorset District Council's decision to spend £10,000 on a review of Arts provision in Dorchester (Echo, May 8).

In the context of the proposed £7 million arts centre in the former brewery maltings, a modest amount of consultancy at this stage looks like a sensible investment.

The review may actually cost twice as much, as the Arts Council is expected to contribute a similar amount.

The Maltings is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not just for the county town but for a substantial part of Dorset to have a state of the art venue for performing and visual arts (see www.dorchesterarts.org.uk for pictures).

The Maltings will be a vibrant arts hub', enriching the community with a diverse range of arts activity. With an auditorium capable of accommodating an audience of 440, it will also be an important facility for schools, community groups, theatre clubs, orchestras, choirs and more.

The Maltings project so far has been driven by the vision of Brewery Square developer Andrew Wadsworth and his colleagues.

Now it's time for the town, in the form of West Dorset District Council, to start playing its part.

Projects like this don't just happen. They have to be planned and discussed and that work has to be paid for.

This study will look at how Dorchester Arts Centre can develop and grow into the Maltings which it will share with other professional arts organisations.

While the district council may not be able to invest huge capital sums into this important addition to Dorchester's infrastructure, it can play a vital enabling role between the professional arts organisations and the Brewery Square developer to help make the dream become a reality.

Alastair Nisbet, Chairman, Dorchester Arts Centre