I AM writing in response to an article in the Evening Advertiser of December 13, which described anticipated cuts to the cultural services in Swindon.

I am appalled to hear that the cultural fabric of the town may be severely undermined.

Swindon has aspirations to city status, a desire to improve tourism and a commitment to lifelong learning. It is narrow-minded, short-sighted and regressive to cut the limited resources currently available in the town.

Similar swingeing cuts in 1992 severely eroded the arts services and disadvantaged us. It has taken years for the business community to rebuild its confidence that Swindon Council is concerned about cultural services.

There are always difficulties in encouraging businesses to relocate and successful towns exploit their cultural potential.

Various cultural projects such as the Festival, the Bowls concerts, Artscape, Cre8, Swindon Dance, Steam, the modern art collection and the Arts Centre demonstrate a sense of purpose. The business partnerships and collaborations that have been developed are damaged by these clumsy ideas. Regionally and nationally there is an increasing sense that the council is not supportive of cultural development in the town.

Why should a company consider funding cultural amenities of which the council itself is unsupportive.

I want to be proud of Swindon. I want to speak of its attractions, interests and cultural base; its railway heritage, its modern art collection, its attention to public places. I want to remove the image of ugliness and vulgarity and speak of its modernisn.

Access to the arts improves people's quality of life. I would like Cre8, Swindon Dance and Artscape to grow and attract attention, not be dimished by a lack of imagination.

I would like the summer concerts and festivals to flourish.

A community will only enjoy its existence through its culture.

JOHN BAILEY

Chicory Close

Pembroke Park

Swindon