SIR — It s a shame that Mr Robert Hill s campaign for independence (Herts Advertiser, April 17) should find little favour among members of Harpenden Town Council. However may I suggest an attractive alternative? Perhaps Harpenden should secede from St Alb

SIR - It's a shame that Mr Robert Hill's campaign for independence (Herts Advertiser, April 17) should find little favour among members of Harpenden Town Council.

However may I suggest an attractive alternative? Perhaps Harpenden should secede from St Albans and forge an alliance with Luton instead. This might involve redrawing the county boundary but the benefits are many fold - eg Harpenden folk could enjoy covered shopping at the Arndale, league football with the Hatters (admittedly they've fallen on hard times but they will be back), and a cultural and ethnic diversity which is lacking in St Albans.

Luton's famed Caesar's Palace could reopen in Harpenden and I'm sure the Luton East Garden Organisation for Veterans and Elderly Residents (LEGOVER) would jump at the chance of a twinning arrangement with the South Harpenden Allotments and Gardens Society.

All this comes at a price though. Council tax in Bedfordshire is some two per cent higher than in Herts.

JON CULVERHOUSE,

Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead.