SIR, — How dare the high and mighty Mr Peter Willsohn lay down the law about our post office which serves east Harpenden so brilliantly. It is surrounded by the very-densely-populated area covering Manland, Batford, Cold Harbour and Lea Valley (which used

SIR, - How dare the high and mighty Mr Peter Willsohn lay down the law about our post office which serves east Harpenden so brilliantly. It is surrounded by the very-densely-populated area covering Manland, Batford, Cold Harbour and Lea Valley (which used to have one of its own) and there are a great many residents who are pensioners living there who rely desperately on its services.

Families, businesses and many en route elsewhere flock to this post office where, I might add, it is possible to park which is more than can be said of Harpenden's main post office.

Of course Mr Willsohn thinks our post office is "obscure" - from his remarks I doubt that he has any knowledge at all of this area of Harpenden, or if he has, it has been gathered only in the few seconds it has taken him to sweep past, negotiating the bend in his car.

He certainly has never used it and waited in the inevitable long queue often snaking its way through the entire shop. Had he done so, even he would have received the usual friendly and excellent service everyone enjoys there.

Let me enlighten you, Mr Willsohn - who incidentally lives as far away as it is possible from Batford and can only just claim to live in Harpenden - some of us have been born and bred here in this town of ours, preserving its beauty and amenities for 80 years or more, and our parents before us, always extending a welcome to newcomers who discover us.

Station Road is one of Harpenden's longest roads - over a mile long and uphill almost all the way from Batford. "A few hundred yards", Mr Willsohn says. At least 1,760 yards.

How dare he state that "many Harpenden and Batford people do not even know it is there". Of course we do. It's essential to each and every one of us. Has he ever discussed this with any residents in the area? I doubt it. Pensioners, the elderly - many with no transport of their own - mums with buggies to push, office workers. This is life, Mr Willsohn and something which has little to do with politics and about which you should learn more before you comment.

JILL HUNT,

Salisbury Road, Harpenden.