JJ GILMOUR makes a number of important points in his letter ‘No right to scrap seafront scheme’ (You Say, July 1).

The unilateral withdrawal by the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) of funding for the regeneration of Weymouth seafront is wholly unjustifiable. A tremendous amount of work is going on in Weymouth and Portland in preparation for hosting the sailing events in 2012.

Local partners are focussed on trying to secure not only a world class sporting experience but also a lasting legacy for the area and its communities. The local authorities, the private and community sectors, lottery funders and, indeed the RDA, are all playing a part in trying to maximise the benefit from this once in a generation opportunity.

However, JJ Gilmour is wrong in thinking that funding for this legacy work outside the immediate Olympic venue is coming from the Olympic Delivery Authority – it is not. With the exception of a very welcome £150,000 from the ODA to enhance walking and cycling routes, it is local effort that is driving the improvements in the town.

We have regrettably learnt that the RDA has withdrawn support for a number of vital projects connected with the Olympic legacy:

Weymouth Sea Front Esplanade Regeneration – the RDA has withdrawn its agreed £6.6m grant to remodel and enhance what will be a primary viewing point for the sailing events. This would have provided a lasting environmental, cultural and economic legacy in this important piece of public realm in the town.

The Chesil Beach Interpretation Centre – the RDA has withdrawn a contribution of £300,000 toward a project adjacent to the National Sailing Academy that was to be one in a network of interpretation centres giving life to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site – the only natural World Heritage Site on mainland Britain. The absence of RDA support will jeopardise the availability of an agreed Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £300,000.

The Natural History Museum Blockbuster Dinosaur Exhibition – the RDA has withdrawn an agreement to underwrite a loan of £750,000 that would allow an international touring exhibition by the NHM to be located in Weymouth during the summer of 2012. This would have been part of the Cultural Olympiad offering associated with both the Games and the World Heritage Site. The business case for the exhibition predicts that such a loan would be repaid through ticket income.

Partners here are dismayed by the decisions of the RDA board. While understanding the financial climate that has brought about these cuts, we are deeply disappointed and angered that the importance of the Olympic Games as a driver for economic, environmental, community and cultural development has not been given priority. We believe this to be incredibly short sighted given the rare and small window of opportunity provided by hosting ‘the greatest show on earth’ when the eyes of the world media will be upon us.

Our preference would be for the RDA to give Weymouth and the Jurassic Coast priority now, recognising that other parts of the south west have had and will have priority for funding at other times.

I have written to the chairman of the Regional Development Agency, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Regional Minister for the South West seeking a reconsideration of these decisions. I await their replies.

Angus Campbell, Leader of Dorset County Council, Chairman of the Dorset Olympic Legacy Board.