E Bray (Your Letters, October 11) is concerned Malvern residents, between 16 and 80 years still await a sports hall.

Earlier this year MHDC agreed the £1.8 million set aside for a sports hall should be allocated as follows: £932,500 to refurbish The Splash, £140,000 to other sports schemes and £800,000 to go to the County Council towards the provision of

duel use sports halls at Dyson Perrins and Tenbury High School, but with priority going to The Splash.

This followed discussions between the officers of MHDC and the County Council, which had been awarded £3.1 million by the Lottery's New Opportunity Fund, with a recommendation it be used to provide duel use facilities at high school sites.

Unfortunately it is now estimated work at The Splash will cost just over £1.5 million. This leaves only

£334,000 for the two sports halls.

It has been decided that will go to Dyson Perrins, which means Malvern residents will have their duel use sports hall but Tenbury residents will not.

MHDC is being asked for £600,000 of ratepayers' money to clear the outstanding debt of Malvern Theatre. If that is done the people of Tenbury will be entitled to expect MHDC to make up the shortfall necessary for the provision of a duel use sports hall at Tenbury High School.

In addition, E Bray is clearly unaware that MHDC, in common with all councils, is subject to examination by the Audit Commission and Government Best Value officers.

Coun Alec Wall, Stoke Bliss.