SIR – I read David Ball's letter concerning the Artwork at the Nursling roundabout and I am one of the Parish Councillors on the Art Committee.

We need to be clear about this funding it is NOT taxpayer's money it is developer's section 106 funds, which are given by developers for infra-structure projects and their use is specified as part of the negotiations when a development is approved by the council.

In this instance the section 106 funds were specifically provided for art work on the LIDL site and LIDL thought it would be better to have the artwork on the Nursling roundabout, where the public can see it, rather than behind a fence on their site.

If the section 106 funds are not used for their designated purpose then they are returned to the developer.

Whether or not TVBC and Southampton Unitary Authority should have agreed to allocate section 106 monies for Art infrastructure is a different question, but the fact is if it is not used for the art project it will be lost and returned to the developer increasing their profits providing no benefit to either the residents of Nursling & Rownhams or Test Valley.

I hope this provides some clarification which may not have been completely clear in the press release from TVBC.

BRIAN RICHARDS

Rownhams