ASHTON Gardens belongs to the people of St Annes NOT Fylde Borough Council and no part of it should be sold unless every resident of St Annes agreed to the sale.

As such I am outraged at the council's decision to sell any part of Ashton Gardens, especially in light of the opposition from the residents of St Annes, who have peacefully protested, debated and petitioned the council over the last couple of months to prevent the land being sold to developers.

I firmly believe that there is no room at the Town Hall for any councillor who is not willing to listen to public opinion. I invite anyone who incorrectly believes the Institute to be derelict to go to the gardens and take a look for themselves. I am sure that they will be pleasantly surprised.

I also think that the council has been short-sighted in failing to acknowledge uses which have been proposed for the Institute, including a drop-in centre, children's theatre and youth club, which would give the youth of the area somewhere to go.

Parents, I am sure, would be interested to know that at the meeting on October 30, 2001, Coun Bill Green stated: "It is not the council's duty to provide facilities for children." I would be interested to know why he thinks we have a council if it is not to provide facilities in the area for all, young and old alike. It is incredulous to me that the council, by their action in deciding to sell, are jeopardising the expected lottery grant, which would provide further facilities within the park for local residents. They cannot call it progress to dispense with amenities in order to build more flats in an area whose infrastructure cannot support its current population. I for one would like a full written explanation from the council -- via the Citizen -- as to the reasons why they have taken this obviously unpopular (and possibly illegal) decision.

Mrs C Preston, address supplied.