Preposterous and self-promoted

WITH a general election in the offing and with a Bill to outlaw hunting passed (never mind how) to become law in February 2005, the Government has taken fright and adopted a 'poodle fakers' charter!

Any disruption prior to May next would be anathema to Messrs Blair and Co so this discredited government takes the coward's way out and postpones implementation.

The Countryside Alliance does us proud, keep up the good work - how ever costly financially - and this once great country of ours may be rid of this preposterous self-promoted outfit of 'little big men.'

DEREK JAMES JONES, Clyro, Powys.

The shape of things to come

IF councillors considering the proposals for building 1000 new homes south of Leominster want to know what it would look like, they need go no further than Ledbury, where streets of tightly-packed houses, that could be in any town from Reading to Roxburgh, lead down to the by-pass.

Do the residents of Ledbury consider that the road has significantly alleviated either the traffic or parking difficulties in the town?

Gillian Herbert,

Hareley Farm, Linley Green.

Deafened by the (silent) responses

THE response to my letter regarding the 'vanishing Hereford Flood Defence Scheme' (Hereford Times, November 25) has been met with overwhelming support.

Many, from all walks of life, have called into our shop or telephoned expressing support and agreeing with the contents of my letter. This includes several involved with flood defences.

There has, however, been a deafening silence from those I thought might like to put their case forward - our 'glorious' MP and the local Environment Agency. But then it backs up my case that neither party is at all interested in the implementation of flood defences in Hereford.

What a contrast to our counterparts in Worcester.

A meeting was held recently with Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency, Michael Foster MP, members of Worcester Action Against Flooding, Severn Trent Water and Worcester City Council.

The purpose was to "review with residents the work so far carried out with flood defences and provide an update of our joint action plan".

We, in Herefordshire, can only dream of such a situation.

Chris Dash,

Proprietor, Part Land, St Martin's Street, Hereford.

Full credit to all

MAY I congratulate the Hereford Times on your recent coverage of our primary schools' Christmas shows?

How your photographers managed to get round to so many schools at dress rehearsal or performance times and capture the children in such delightful groups I can't imagine.

Full credit to the teachers, the mums, the cast and everybody involved!

PHIL SHAW, Ivington Court, Ivington, Leominster.

Editor's note: Thanks for the kind words - it can be planned with military precision, thanks to the co-operation of all the schools involved.