SIR – Dear members of the HLP (Harpenden Local Party) were obviously unprepared to reveal their names when commenting on the letter which the editor of this paper kindly printed (Herts Advertiser, October 8) when I was expressing my approval for houses t

SIR - Dear members of the HLP (Harpenden Local Party) were obviously unprepared to reveal their names when commenting on the letter which the editor of this paper kindly printed (Herts Advertiser, October 8) when I was expressing my approval for houses to be erected on the piece of land adjacent to the A1081 (A6) and bordered by Ambrose Lane to the east and Cooters End Lane to the north.

I have received many compliments for expressing my views. It appears that one writer considers me to be na�ve about the demands which this development will make upon our infrastructure and does not in any way say how Harpenden can contribute to the desperate need for affordable housing. Perhaps he feels that Harpenden should not contribute in any way at all.

As I indicated in my previous letter, usually everything I expect will drop into place.

Our writer who is afraid to declare his name, unlike Alan Bunting who has expressed his opinion, must be a member of our local council or has access to information which was collected as a result of replies which came from the local forum.

I expect our writer has a comfortable house in a comfortable road and may not have been a member of our wonderful village community as long as I have.

He (or she) should remember that the magic of Harpenden is created by the Common and all the wonderful village's centre of greens, flowerbeds, trees and open spaces, sponsored by Harpenden in Bloom.

We have three excellent progressive senior schools and numerous primary and junior schools, three supermarkets and numerous individual traders - nearly everything which a family requires for their everyday needs without the use of the internet.

Since our writer suggests that we refer to the website relating to the Government's proposals for housing, we can also shop on line if we require to do so.

No reference is made abut the continuous development by our local builder farmer who is continually creeping nearer to Luton.

The site we are referring to is in Hertfordshire although only a few fields away on the same side of the A6 they are in Bedfordshire and yet on the opposite side of the road to Kinsbourne Green and beyond, the land remains in Hertfordshire and there are many houses in that area so much nearer to Luton than the site we are referring to.

I received through my door yesterday a wonderful newsletter from our local MP Peter Lilley, one of my friends, who is so good at representing the causes and needs of our society.

He does not support the development of houses on the site we are referring to.

Fortunately we are blessed with a free democratic society and are able to express our views as Nick Griffin did on Question Time.

He obviously was unaware of the meaning of a Christian society, a society which is prepared to share and provide the social needs of its members (i.e. better living standards and housing).

In the New Year we shall be having our local elections and a General Election and I hope that members of the HLP will be brave enough to put for election to our local authority (I wonder how many votes they get and do they hold the same views as the BNP?) to represent our village which I have not the slightest desire to see spoiled. For my working life I was the village baker.

Whatever party is returned at the General Election, the housing crisis will continue to have to be addressed and no matter how painful it may be to our council and its members, Harpenden will have to play its part and provide housing, if not on the site we are referring to somewhere else - but where?

GEOFF ACKROYD,

Hammonds End,

Harpenden