SIR, — We seem to be getting a continuing flow of perverse decions from those in authority. Following on from the planning inspector s ruling about the most contentious Colney Heath caravans, we then had a judge granting bail to a man on a murder charge w

SIR, - We seem to be getting a continuing flow of perverse decions from those in authority. Following on from the planning inspector's ruling about the most contentious Colney Heath caravans, we then had a judge granting bail to a man on a murder charge who went on to shoot his mother-in-law and then himself. His brother was let off forfeiting his surety for £200,000 bail by another judge - or was it the same one again? Then we had a report that two women were convicted of numerous frauds on T K Maxx and the judge in that case said it "would be hard to punish them now" and so they were merely ordered to make some restitution.

All these events can only serve to make us lose faith in "justice" or at least those appointed to administer it in this area.

Then we move on to the granting of planning permission for an intensive development in King Harry Lane, St Albans, which most locals are vehemently opposed to. And the inspector on this one accepts the fatuous claim of the developers that pensioners do not need cars! Well I can tell him that with a replacement knee and two dodgy shoulders, I need the use of a car now much more than I did when I retired 20 years ago. Barrie Mort and his dozens of activist friends have my greatest sympathy as do the residents of Abbey Avenue, St Stephen's Avenue and Midway whose roads will become even more of a rat run than they are today.

On these precedents one shudders to thinks of what the outcome of the Helioslough proposals will be. Certainly these recent cases give little hope that any consideration will be given to the objections of the hundreds of local people who are against the development.

PHILIP WEBSTER,

Townsend Drive, St Albans.