OF all the letters published in Opinion last week (March 2), two-thirds expressed a welcome to the notion that a number of migrants from foreign lands might soon be accommodated locally.

There were none expressing a contrary view.

It is pointless for anyone to hold an opinion for or against in this matter. No British government of any party has the means to limit migration into this country and it seems the situation on the continental mainland is just the same.

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What is happening is that fit, healthy and enterprising people wish to settle in the more prosperous parts of the world in preference to their places of birth and are on the move. Who could blame them?

Our islands have been in this situation before: some 1,600 years ago the Romans withdrew their last legions from Britain and the natives found themselves powerless to stop the migration of many thousands of north Europeans, commonly known as Saxons, into eastern England.

The process was probably quite peaceful, and being spread out over decades and centuries, hardly noticed.

The present migration is likely to be just as peaceful but will, courtesy of the media, be more noticeable and will be quicker.

In the short term, say the next 30 years, there may be some minor inconveniences such as the allocation of housing to migrants rather than to natives and some upward adjustment of taxes to support newcomers.

But once this period of adjustment is over, no one will notice that names have changed, traditions and cultures have been replaced, and the system of government has become quite different.

STEPHEN WEST-ORAM

Stretton Grandison, near Ledbury

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