SIR – Geoff Ackroyd remembers the days when the infrastructure needed for new housing simply dropped into place (Herts Advertiser November 5). Those happy days have gone, and we now have deficits in our local infrastructure which Government refuses to ass

SIR - Geoff Ackroyd remembers the days when the infrastructure needed for new housing simply dropped into place (Herts Advertiser November 5).

Those happy days have gone, and we now have deficits in our local infrastructure which Government refuses to assess let alone pay for. It is this kind of worry that has led 2,199 Harpenden households to oppose the release of land from the Harpenden Green Belt for major housebuilding. Only four households supported it.

I agree with him that high house prices rob our children of the chance to live here, but lack of water and schools would have the same effect. So would coalescence with Luton. The Green Belt safeguards towns, not the countryside.

RICHARD THOMAS

Chairman, The Harpenden Green Belt Association

SIR - I refer to the letter from G Ackroyd in the Herts Advertiser of November 5.

Mr Ackroyd accuses the writer of a previous letter, of having a comfortable house, in a comfortable road. I feel that Mr Ackroyd is rather hypocritical in this statement, as he lives in Hammonds End, and could not live much further from the site in question and still be considered a Harpenden resident. Mr Ackroyd obviously hasn't a clue where the county boundary is, even though he has lived here for years.

For his information, the county line bisects the field next to the proposed site, and joins the A1081 (A6) at Thrales End Lane. The boundary then follows the A6 until the turn off to Slip End. (adj. Luton Hoo main entrance). (Here endeth the geography lesson).

As far as a builder/farmer being involved, Mr Ackroyd is grossly mistaken. The land concerned is owned by a charity, and it was bequeathed to them, the farmer only rents the field; they are in the process of trying to "sell off the family silver", as they have done on numerous occasions.

As for an alternative site, I propose Hammonds End.

M COWELL

Harpenden North

SIR - I have received a relatively unbranded publication, clearly designed to fool the community into believing it is an impartial free newspaper.

This announces in its headline that 'Lib Dems save the Green Belt'.

If this is the case, why did the Lib Dem council representatives at the recent core strategy event in Harpenden tell me that they were offering up several Green Belt locations for development because they "had to play the game". Surely, if they are so keen on "saving the Green Belt" then they wouldn't be drawn into a "game" with pawns of such importance.

I thought the days of unfounded political spin were over, but clearly it's alive and well in St Albans!

DEAN RUSSELL

Chesterton Avenue, Harpenden