ON a recent visit to Here- fordshire to see my parents I saw the Hereford Times of January 29 and read about the endless wrangles about the mythical bypass, more housing plans being rejected and another venerable city pub calling last orders forever.

At least we got the new shopping and restaurant development which caused as much consternation and conflict as plans to build a nuclear waste storage facility.

Soon Hereford will be able to sell itself as a living museum of a market town in terminal decline.

Plus ça change, Hereford!

HENRY WHITMARSH Swinside, Durham