MAY I, through your columns, express my sincere thanks to Professor Whitelegg, the Green Party candidate for Lancaster and Wyre at the last General Election, for, after a delay of several months, answering a simple question that has been put to him several times.

Professor Whitelegg now tells us, in a clear contradiction of what he originally said, that the Green Party did not support the building of what he originally said, that the Green Party did not support the building of a new road in Lancaster in 1992.

This admission, however, begs another question.

Why, Professor, did you tell the readers of this newspaper that it did?

The rest of the Professor's letter is the kind of slick political double-talk that the Greens so condemn when it comes from real, grown-up politicians.

In order that you cannot claim another ' misunderstanding,' Professor, let me make it quite clear that, in this letter, I am not asking about your views on Stephen Byers, the 'quality of life' enjoyed by anyone at all, local or otherwise, membership of the Euro, the current state of the railways or the price of eggs.

I am asking you why you said something to the readers of this newspaper that we all know, by your own admissions, was untrue.

Ray Hill

Lancaster