EX-COUNCILLOR Major Frank Hoyle would do well to climb down from his high-horse and pay attention to the lower ranks.

In writing of the council's shameful plans for Ashton Gardens (Oct 18) he tells us that councillors "should be left to decide on matters relating to projects put before them."

Ah, indeed! What business have members of the public got, poking their noses into matters quite outside their intellect?

His words of contempt epitomise the standards of our elected representatives in turning their backs on those whom they purport to represent.

Such a disgraceful attitude is an offence against the hospitality so generously extended by the electorate in choosing their representatives.

Apart from attempting to save Ashton Gardens from councillor vandalism, by appealing to those who will not listen, there is a far more reliable way.

The law offers a very good route to success and there is good reason to be optimistic.

The terms of the original conveyance, when taken together with recent decisions on land disputes, handed down by the courts, and indeed the House of Lords, tips the balance very much in the favour of sanity.

The advantage that the land developer has, however, in conjunction with the council, is... money. Money can of course be used for either good or bad purposes, and those motivated by self-interest will no doubt abuse their positions to stretch to the limit the finances of those who dare stand against them. This can be countered by those in favour of standing up to the bully-boys, by paying into a kitty a sum of perhaps 50p or a pound each. The total would give a lot of flexibility to activists who are so commendably fighting the greedy ones at their own game.

It is unrealistic moreover to believe that "the council will win in the end." From a legal point of view they have a very steep hill to climb to convince a court of the rightness of their claim. Other than having easy access to finance, everything is against them. Indeed, all courts now are bound by the decisions of both the High Court and the House of Lords and not even the money-men can change that.

I appeal to all who, unlike some of our councillors, know the value of St Annes rather than just the price, to demonstrate generosity of spirit on so critical an issue. Indeed, there'll be no second chance!

P Roscoe,

Derbe Road,

St Annes.