IT SEEMS that my advertisement has struck a raw nerve with Cllr Peter Robinson.

I saw it as a positive contribution to future thinking on regeneration projects for Morecambe and Heysham but he seems to be following his Lancaster based colleague's negative approach to Morecambe. He also has had a temporary lapse of memory.

The fact is I was Cabinet member for regeneration for an 18-month period from May 2001 and during that period the Morecambe action plan was produced, Urban Splash came on board and council officers were working their socks off trying to bring investment into Morecambe.

I was not suggesting that quality homes should not be built in Morecambe, of course they should, but you need jobs as well as housing. That means bringing in and supporting business and looking at what we can offer in the way of leisure facilities.

Cllr Robinson, like the Lancaster Cabinet mafia, simply cannot get out of the habit of talking Morecambe down. The West End has been represented for many years by Labour councillors, county councillors and a Labour MP. Is he suggesting they have failed? He is absolutely right when he says that something must be done about the transient population in the West End but, I ask, why are he and his elected Labour colleagues not doing something about the problem?

Labour's last big idea for Morecambe was Mr Blobby... now that was a stale idea!

James Airey, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale.