I WAS dismayed and shocked to hear that district councillor Fran Oborski suggested that Kidderminster Arts Festival be reduced to one week in order to save money and attract more visitors!

The district council allocates just £5,000 for this two-week festival. It is thanks to the tireless efforts of the Arts Officer that this small amount generates much larger amounts like the Arts Council grants awarded both last year and this.

Arts Council grants are only awarded when a minimum of 20 per cent of the budget is raised elsewhere as match funding. So not only would the saving be tiny if the festival were cut in half, but the opportunity to attract funding into the town would be substantially reduced.

Last year, the carpet forest was a huge visitor attraction which would not have been worth doing for just one week. The community atmosphere at the Fringe Festival was amazing, with music, street art and poetry.

At the Boars Head alone this year there will be an event every day from August 7-24. I don't understand Mrs Oborski's logic in saying that a shorter festival would attract more visitors.

From her involvement in the Save the Library Gallery campaign, it seemed she was a strong supporter of the arts, and one of the thrusts of her argument was that funding the arts attracts further investment, which is part of the county council arts strategy.

Last year, apart from speaking at the official KAF launch, she was away for the whole festival. I hope this year she will come along and sample the positive atmosphere, celebrate the uniqueness of this event and fully appreciate its value.

HEATHER WASTIE Chairman Kidderminster Creatives