Sir – I read with interest Tony Hadland’s letter (October 3) representing the views of the Oxfordshire Local History Association and regarding the funding of heritage-related expenditure in Oxfordshire.

He makes several valid points, including, the observation that many major institutions in the county receive considerable financial support, although this situation doesn’t hold true for many of our smaller heritage organisations.

From a local perspective, a typical example is Bicester, which could well become the second largest town in the county during the next decade should present development plans be completed.

The town at present has no facility to display the history and heritage of the area. Many smaller communities in the county benefit from heritage facilities although these survive through the work of volunteers and receive no authority funding.

Bicester History and Archaeology Exhibition, held on the last weekend in September, attracted large crowds to the event. It demonstrated the public appetite to connect with the heritage of the area.

The exhibition saw the launch of the Bicester Museum & Heritage Association designed to seek trust status to pursue the aim of establishing heritage facilities in the town. The project is not expecting to receive financial support from the authorities although the project will bring social and economic benefits to the community.

Oxfordshire faces difficult budgetary restraints and heritage-related initiatives may understandably not be a major priority for the county council.

It remains important, however, that the value of heritage be recognised as many other local authorities feel it important to do so. Oxfordshire has much to celebrate within the heritage of the county and its value deserves to be recognised.

Peter Chivers, Secretary, Bicester Museum & Heritage Association