I WOULD like to put forward a view in the debate over the proposed cinema and Kidderminster town centre redevelopment.

When there is talk of "out of town", we should surely judge these definitions in the light of "viable" and currently much-used alternatives, such as Merry Hill and Worcester.

That is the real "out of town", and yet many people are prepared to travel to these places to go to the cinema.

In terms of distance, Crossley Park may be described as "out of town" but it is not so far to travel as the aforementioned places, for those living in Wyre Forest.

When people get to Merry Hill and Worcester, they are prepared to walk much greater distances than the Kidderminster equivalent of Sainsbury's to the town hall and back, in the pursuit of leisure activities such as shopping, visiting the cinema and "eating out".

By all means extend our town centre. The cinema would draw people into Kidderminster from a wide area by attracting customers with good parking facilities.

From the cinema, it would be just a short walk to the good shopping that we enjoy in the town centre.

In the school holidays, the cinema would be an added attraction to entice families and shoppers back to the town.

Surely the primary issue is to have a cinema somewhere in Wyre Forest and preferably in Kidderminster, bringing with it the wider benefits to the town, the community and the local economy.

Mrs HEIDY HAGUE

Reservoir Road

Kidderminster