INDEPENDENT schools must work harder at setting up educational links with state

INDEPENDENT schools must work harder at setting up educational links with state schools, Stephen Byers, the school standards minister said yesterday. Mr Byers welcomed a survey showing that more than three-quarters of private schools have at least one joint activity with either the local community or state school. But he said that the Government's initiative to foster partnership between state and private schools aimed to raise academic standards. What are we going to bequeath to the children of Stratford and their far-flung contemporaries?"A cultural wasteland or another small jewel in this town's crown? Another pub or a cultural amenity which could change and enhance their lives?"She urged the inspector to rule in favour of the district council in saving the theatre from "extinction" and said she hoped it would become a "further beacon of theatrical activity" in the town.She criticised the Government for its lack of support for the arts saying: "I feel passionate about the future of the theatre in this country, and about this government - so fervent in opposition - and its failure to support the arts."The actress, who sat down to rapturous applause, became involved with the campaign last year when she performed at the nearby Royal Shakespeare Theatre.The inquiry was set up after Weatherspoon's lodged an appeal when the council blocked its application for permission to change the theatre.Council planning officers had recommended granting permission, but the committee rejected it because it regarded the theatre as an important part of Stratford's cultural heritage that should be maintained.. The award-winning actress travelled from London to Stratford-upon-Avon to address a public inquiry into the future of the tiny Waterside Theatre. The venue, a stone's throw from the Royal Shakespeare Company's three theatres, closed last year, and campaigners, including the district council, are fighting to stop plans by brewery chain J D Weatherspoon to turn it into a restaurant and bar.She told the packed council chamber: "Once a theatre is gone, no matter how large or small, it is another brick removed from the foundations of our culture."Actors love their pubs as much as do any in the land - we probably love our theatres better - but a city-centre pub, on that corner, overlooking the river, does Stratford really need it? This much-loved theatre will be big in its uses, hosting concerts and conferences, and continuing to be a centre of excellence in education and a training ground for young people in all the performing arts."She addressed the female government planning inspector directly asking: "Madam inspector, would you rather see your children or young relatives spend their free time in a pub, or would you rather they became involved in a youth drama, music, dance or art group?"As we approach the millennium we are all busy reflecting on society's progress. The actress Susannah York yesterday gave an impassioned performance, speaking out to save a small community theatre from being turned into a pub. In addition, tax relief can only be claimed on donations above pounds 250, a deterrent to many who would like to help the arts.Join our campaignWe the undersigned support The Independent campaign to pressure Gordon Brown to make all donations to the Arts straightforwardly tax deductible:SIGNATURE NAMEADDRESSSIGNATURE NAMEADDRESSSIGNATURE NAMEADDRESS. Tax relief can only be claimed where the organisation is a charity.

Absa chairman Robin Wight, who heads the WCRF advertising agency, has sent a copy to Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, with a letter that says the Government should look at ways of simplifying the treatment of sponsors and donors in line with the United States model.Mr Wight says: "Our tax guide is 60 pages long. The Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts (Absa), which represents 300 businesses including companies such as BT and BP, is supporting our campaign, Absa's director-general Colin Tweedy said yesterday. The association, whose director of operations is Ffion Jenkins - recently married to the leader of the Opposition, William Hague - numbers luminaries in both business and the arts on its ruling council.These include businessmen such as Sir Peter Davis and Sir Nicholas Goodison and leading figures in the arts such as Dame Diana Rigg and Lord Puttnam.Absa yesterday published its own tax guide for its members, prepared in association with Arthur Andersen, the accountancy firm. Many leading arts figures including Sir Peter Hall, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Fiona Shaw and Ian Holm have also given their support.We are urging Mr Brown to use his Budget to introduce a change in taxation law to enable people to make tax-free donations to arts companies and venues.A simple system could be brought in to replace the muddled and cumbersome system of tax relief through covenants and the Gift Aid Scheme.The system is riddled with anomalies Some arts organisations are charities, others are not. This would massively increase the amount of money individuals give to the arts, and help end the financial crisis that cultural institutions are facing.Already this week the campaign has attracted the significant support of the Secretary of State for Culture, Chris Smith.

Surely it should only be three pages."And Mr Tweedy added yesterday: "Arts supporters should be left with a warm feeling and not an accounting nightmare."The Independent and Independent on Sunday campaign is urging the Chancellor to simplify the tax system for those giving to the arts and make all donations tax deductible in his Budget on 17 March. The Independent and Independent on Sunday campaign to stop the crisis in the arts by giving tax relief to people donating money to theatres, galleries, museums and orchestras, has won another victory, gaining the support of the country's leading businesses. He always had cars outside and motorbikes and he rode a bike himself."Another neighbour said: "He always seemed to have a lot of visitors at his house and he was always dealing in cars."A member of the staff at a local public house said: "He used to flash around a lot of money in here and one day came in with what must have been pounds 12,000 in cash."A squad of 25 detectives was set up to investigate the murder and police were last night studying tapes from a closed circuit television at a nearby community centre to see if they had picked up the gunman fleeing from the scene.. "They said there had been an incident across the way, a gentleman had been shot in the head at close range and it was a professional hit," he said.The dead man was unmarried but neighbours said he had a woman friend who was frequently at the house which he rented.One, who attended a 40th birthday party at his house, said: "He was a friendly bloke and his girlfriend was often there. She refused to confirm claims that the victim was a police informer.Neighbour Mike Brunger said police and paramedics rushed to the scene after the attack. A man shot dead in what has been described as a "professional hit" was a police informer who gave evidence against a mafia drugs gang, it was claimed last night. James Lawson, 40, was shot several times at his home in Hook, Hampshire, on Monday night.

Armed police were called after neighbours heard three shots and Mr Lawson was taken to hospital where he died several hours later. Last night, it was claimed that Mr Lawson - whose real name is believed to be Peter McNeil - had been moved to Hampshire from London by the police after turning "grass" at a drugs trial.It is believed he was a key informer in a Scotland Yard investigation which broke a cocaine ring involving the Mafia, a Columbian drug cartel and possibly the IRA.A Hampshire police spokeswoman said a contract killing was one of several lines of inquiry that police were pursuing. "Year-round cover should if necessary be funded by a levy on shipping and oil interests - that was one of Lord Donaldson's recommendations when he enquired into the Braer disaster."Ron Davies, the Secretary of State for Wales, said: "The Government will be considering the report carefully over the coming months."The Environmental Impact of the Sea Empress Oil Spill Available at Stationery Office bookshops Price pounds 19.00. "A lot of damage is caused to society itself and that cost should be included as well as more high profile costs."The clean-up in west Wales was hampered by a lack of local sites to receive the thousands of tonnes of oil removed from the coastline. Some had to be driven 100 miles for disposal at Merthyr Tydfil.The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is urged to review the training of volunteer bird cleansers in the light of evidence suggesting that many oiled birds returned to the wild died later.Local MP Nick Ainger later expressed dismay at the Government's decision not to have a powerful tug permanently on station to cover Milford Haven.

"We are still waiting for areas at risk to be identified so that measures can be put in place to handle future problems," she said.The report urges the establishment of what it calls "a national contingency plan for environmental assessment" to enable experts to step in promptly. "The early weeks are critical and measures must be in place so that action is taken swiftly," Professor Edwards said.He reinforced appeals to ensure that the "polluter pays" principle is followed to the letter. Joan Edwards, marine conservation officer of the Wildlife Trusts, the umbrella body of 47 trusts claimed that the key recommendations in the report into the Braer accident had not been implemented. Conservationists pointed out later that little appeared to have changed since the Braer ran aground off the Shetlands in January 1993. Damage to the environment is estimated at between pounds 50m and pounds 100m, with losses to the tourist trade ranging from an optimistic pounds 1.5m to a numbing pounds 40m, with extra health costs put at pounds 17m.