SIR, — In his letter (Herts Advertiser, June 5), Cllr Mike Wakely complained about the Hatching Green road in Harpenden being restored to its original width. If he were to remove his St Albans District Council hat for a brief moment and don his Harpenden

SIR, - In his letter (Herts Advertiser, June 5), Cllr Mike Wakely complained about the Hatching Green road in Harpenden being restored to its original width. If he were to remove his St Albans District Council hat for a brief moment and don his Harpenden Town Council hat, he might recall two facts.

The developers asked the town council if they would be prepared to release common land for road widening to allow lorries safe access while the development was carried out at Hatching Green. After a lively debate, the town council agreed to the proposal, with the clear proviso that the road would be re-instated to its original width once the development was completed - i.e. there would be no permanent encroachment on the Common.

The Common is a principal and valued asset of Harpenden and the town council has always fiercely protected it against any incursion. I happen to believe that agreements should be honoured and that our Common should not be used as a bullet in a war between a councillor and Herts Highways and its agents.

CLENNEL COLLINGWOOD,

Former Harpenden Town Councillor.