AS a born and bred Darwen man I was absolutely appalled to read the article on The Valley Arts Centre closure.

Since Alan Fielding and his wife started upon their venture to promote the teaching of art in Darwen, from the humble beginnings in Sudell Road to the current premises in Brunswick Street, I have been so very impressed with their dedication and hard work in the building up a most successful community service which the town council does not appear to recognise nor is prepared to support.

I have had the great pleasure of visiting the centre on many occasions not only to see the exhibitions of the students' work but also to watch tuition in action.

The centre has catered for such a wide spectrum of the community including pensioners, the unemployed, young children and many young and old with learning difficulties, all of whom have gained so much.

At a stroke, the local authority is prepared to destroy all of this facility and to destroy the dreams of two of the most socially-minded people I have ever met.

To visit the exhibitions of work and to see such talent being brought out in such a diversity of individuals is a pleasure indeed.

Unfortunately the councillors obviously have no appreciation for art or feelings for the hard work that has been put into this project, so selflessly by these two individuals.

Valley Arts is a success story, having produced a very valued and much used community service which the local authority is now prepared to simply destroy.

What is required now is a teaching centre location where this project can continue, not simply an offer of the use of gallery space and it is surely not too much to ask.

KEITH F MARTIN, Inner Promenade, Lytham St Annes.