It seems inconceivable that anyone who wishes to improve cultural standards in Croydon would favour the Arrowcroft proposals for the Gateway development, rather than those of Stanhope Schroder (Plan includes Warehouse, Croydon Guardian, October 18).

Whereas the latter's include a new, modern and improved Warehouse Theatre, the former's would instead inflict upon long-suffering Croydonians a large-scale arena which might be excellent for sporting events but would do nothing for the performing arts.

If its scheme is adopted Croydon will lose the one venue currently providing worthwhile drama.

The arena is bound to mount pop concerts - thus bringing thousands of young people into the centre of town, inevitably among whom will be a proportion of undesirable hooligans.

This may well be good for the pubs and licensed drinking clubs which have been allowed to proliferate in recent years but the noise, congestion and detritus is likely to be intolerable for residents.

So far as culture is concerned, the choice lies between the preservation and improvement of a first-class theatre which has already established an enviable reputation nationally and a venue for, among other things, pop concerts which will spell yet a further dumbing-down of culture in the borough.

It is difficult to believe that this is what the council really wants. Yet the withdrawal of the Warehouse's grant points ominously to the conclusion that they are going to turn out even more Philistine than their Labour predecessors.

ROBIN HOWARD Upfield Croydon