Sir,

I agree with Cllr Archer regarding the 'outrage' of the Borough Council spending over a million pounds on the Campus West  cinema in WGC. We are constantly being told that the Council is skint and that we are in the throes of tough economic times. So how can it make financial sense to plough more money into facilities that are not needed within this strange borough?

The Galleria has nine screens and shows all the top film releases, but all we local taxpayers have to fork out for is the entrance fee and our popcorn. The situation now is that hard pressed Hatfield people, once again, will be subsidising WGC leisure provision through our Council Tax. What's in it for us?

In the past year or so the Borough Council has lavished upon WGC: about £400,000 on KGV all weather pitches; £1.1 million on their refurbished library; £100,000 on a new projector for their Hawthorne Theatre and now they are going to spend £1.2 million upon more facilities for Campus West. When does Hatfield ever get any nice new things from this Tory Council? 

Finally, if Cllr Tony Kingsbury believes there is a good business case for more cinema provision in WGC, will he please explain why nobody from the private sector has come forward wanting to provide it?

Regards, Rob Ward