I WAS very interested to see your article in Nostalgic Times.

Hereford City may well have won that epic battle in 1992, but six years later in 1998 when the unitary authority was formed Hereford City lost all of its properties, including the public library to the present administration.

I wonder what those who struggled for so long thought of that?

Not only did it lose all of its property, but it also lost its city status.

It was not until two years later that, with a Royal Charter, the city status was restored.

I am making enquiries, but my gut feeling is that the unitary authority did not start with a deficit, yet within that same time, 18 years, Herefordshire has accrued a debt of £338 million.

Having acquired all its property, for nothing, it found it had responsibilities to maintain it, and now it is endeavouring to dispose of it as fast as it can, offering it to anyone ready to take it on. 

Like a ship that is sinking it wants to throw everything overboard to stay afloat.

That was the reason for selling off the farm smallholdings, of course, and the Butter Market for the cost of a four-bedroom house, I am led to believe.

At a recent meeting the assistant director of communities was offering everything and anything to the parishes that are not profit making.

As with the debt, it is easy to spend other people's money, especially when there is no actual accountability.

When it all goes pear shaped there will be resignations and those responsible will walk away, or sail away, as one ex-cabinet member already has, and the ratepayer will pay the price.

CLLR CHARLES NICHOLLS

Hereford