Better to work with us than against us

They were also the first to be invited for a preview tour when we gained access to the new building.

From the outset we have sought to be complementary to the Shoreham Centre, not in competition.

Just this week we have referred two enquiries from potential

customers to the Shoreham Centre whose facilities are better suited to them.

Our aim has always been to attract new performers, businesses and audiences to Adur, for the benefit not just of the Ropetackle Centre but also other venues across the district.

That includes the Shoreham Centre.

We have not received a "super huge grant" from Adur District Council.

We have simply been reimbursed the likely maintenance cost of keeping the building going for our first 12 months, while the fit out takes place and before our events' revenue comes on tap.

If we had not taken on the management of the facility, that bill would fall to the council in any case.

Volunteers on the Ropetackle Board have worked hard for more than six years now to make the Ropetackle Centre a reality.

We have much more work to do and more funds to raise.

Last weekend we welcomed residents from the Ropetackle to come inside and see what we are up to.

Their unanimously positive and supportive comments were really uplifting for our volunteers.

Just as we are opening our doors to potential sponsors and customers, and embarking on an expensive fit-out, to be written off as "white elephant" pouring "money down the drain" is not only potentially damaging but deeply deflating.

I hope our colleagues at the Shoreham Centre will think twice before making such ill-judged and unfair pronouncements in the future.

We are working hard to prepare the centre to stage several events during the Adur Arts festival starting with a viewing of Al Gore's Oscar winning film An Inconvenient Truth followed by a discussion, on June 2.

We need as much help as possible and I would urge everyone to join the Friends of the Ropetackle Centre and offer their help.

We had hoped to hold the first Friend's Annual meeting today (Thursday) but due to communications problems and the fact that our chairs have not arrived yet we are having to postpone that meeting for a few weeks, and apologies to all those who had planned to come.

New details will be sent out soon.

Tim Loughton MP

Chairman of The Ropetackle Centre Trust

Little High Street

Shoreham