IT was delightful to read that the Dean Heritage Centre has installed a water wheel which will be generating enough energy to reduce the centre's electricity costs by £7,000.

The depressing side of the story however was the report that the wheel was made by a German company!

I do not criticise that company, Bega, for going after the business, nor indeed any company for doing what is best for it. However, I do ask if the purchase decision was well made on behalf of the Dean?

The Forest of Dean has some marvellous companies, including world class engineering ones and I would like to think that local companies would have been considered.

They might have been but I confess your report was the first I had heard of the wheel.

I hope that the Heritage Centre, which of course only exists because of the Dean, will let your readers know that it did consider bids from companies in the Forest and also let those unsuccessful local companies know why their bids were not successful.

Those companies, will I am sure be pleased to learn the lessons to help develop more business in the Forest, thereby creating a valuable new heritage. – Tom Atkinson, Chairman, Forest Inspiration.

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•Centre manager Nat­halie Hall responded:

I can confirm that the Dean Heritage Centre asked a number of local companies to quote for the wheel but they either responded by saying they could not complete the job or could not provide the full package which was required.

After an exhaustive search, Bega, in Germany was the only company which was able to provide a full package at an affordable price.

As a charity and community founded venture, one of the DHC's main aims is to support local businesses whenever possible and this is always a key consideration when tendering for work.

To support this aim, a variety of local companies such as JD Norman Industries, Apex Architecture and Future Industries have been involved in the water wheel project to date and other local businesses have been approached to quote for the second phase of the project.

The water wheel project will offer a higher added value experience to tourists and visitors while promoting the unique history and heritage of the Forest of Dean.

In attracting visitors to the DHC, the project will make visible the wider Forest of Dean region, thus also benefiting local businesses.