Madam, I cannot match the humour of the Outlaws letter but it does raise some important questions. Who are the people who sanctioned this disastrous waste of our money? Are they prepared to justify their decisions in your columns and, if not, why not?

Some time ago I went to see the so-called 'Roman remains'. They may be of interest archeologically but as any kind of tourist attraction they aren't even sixth rate beside Bath, York, St Albans, Chester and so many more. Have our parochial decision makers never travelled?

The stone may, indeed, be Roman but that isn't to say Romans put it there. Where, for instance, is the road? Stone, Roman, Saxon, Norman and other has regularly been pillaged by enterprising locals for other building before the era of preservation and who is to say that perhaps John Kyrle did not do likewise for The Prospect.

In any event there are 'Romans' all over Britain but only one John Kyrle, so let's get back to our own heritage. Nothing I have heard so far seems to justify the desecration of The Prospect, and the blatant vandalism (for there is no other word) which felled a noble landmark tree.

Nick Hawthorn, Ross