Sir.-I was pleased to read in The Gazette on Friday, October 1 that development of land at Basingstoke's Viables Craft Centre will be for craft industries and other "sympathetic" businesses.

Such development was the preferred option recommended to the council by the board of Viables Activities Trust Ltd more than a year ago.

What has not yet been reported is the policy to be pursued in the future towards promoting the site and its tenants.

I await with interest to learn of how the council will now manage events, encourage young local craftspeople and outreach education on the site, in view of the absence of appropriate on-site management.

I suspect that the council has yet to think through all the implications of site expansion and improving on previous successful activities.

-Richard Osborne, Chairman, Viables Activities Trust, Basingstoke.