SIR – Well, I do seem to have hit a raw nerve with Cllr Shardlow. Having read articles and letters about Wheathampstead from Cllr. Shardlow s perspective for months in local papers and literature I finally replied with a short letter to the Herts Advertis

SIR - Well, I do seem to have hit a raw nerve with Cllr Shardlow. Having read articles and letters about Wheathampstead from Cllr. Shardlow's perspective for months in local papers and literature I finally replied with a short letter to the Herts Advertiser a few weeks ago in order to exercise some balance.

I agree that Cllr Shardlow is an avid campaigner but often her own opinion, which is not always accurate, is mixed with facts.

When people read what she has said in the paper and other literature they have no way to differentiate between the two.

The only reason that I can is because I'm working as hard as she is on the same issues. I just tend to do it more quietly, without taking my work to the newspapers as often.

It's possible, in the light of your letter from Richard Parkinson last week that I need to rethink the way I work behind the scenes, without courting publicity, to achieve things.

Had I gone to the local papers with all of the projects in which I've been actively involved, and indeed initiated, in Wheathamp-stead over the last few months he may not have written about me that "I personally have yet to witness her presence in Wheathamp-stead".

I've been enthused and encouraged by the warm welcome that residents and organisations in Wheathampstead have given me as their new county councillor, allowing me to work constructively with and for the village.

I've been collaborating with the parish council to initiate a road plan including a crossing outside the Memorial Hall on Marford Road, to introduce new play equipment at Rectory Meadow and to create a new heritage trail.

I'm also working with Herts Highways to try to alleviate the congestion outside Wheathamp-stead House and have provided funding for Wheathampstead Community Group to start up a new pilates class.

I supported residents over the Butterfield Road planning applications and am trying to ensure that the crinkle crankle wall at the Old Rectory is preserved as part of the hertiage trail for the village.

I've also worked with Wheat-hampstead and District Preserv-ation Society on Blackbridge Tip, with Wheathampstead for Enter-prising Business on linking Wheathampstead businesses with Redbourn's and, of course, with parents of children with no ranked school.

The examples above only touch on some of my involvement with Wheathampstead and don't include all of the individual case work I undertake daily.

I became a councillor because I want to help others as I've been helped in the past. I value every resident who contacts me and enjoy getting my teeth into tricky problems.

So, I would like to extend a warm invitation to Mr Parkinson and all Wheathampstead and Redbourn residents to contact me if they would like me to show them round, or discuss, some or all of the projects in which I'm involved. It would be impossible for everyone to have met me personally yet, but I'd like to assure residents that I'm always working for Wheathampstead and Redbourn to keep our villages the special places that they are.

CLLR MAXINE CRAWLEY

County Councillor for St Albans Rural (Wheathampstead and Redbourn)