Madam, Returning from a holiday break at the beginning of the month, I was browsing through the previous week's Ross Gazette and noticed another letter from Mr Horne, almost a weekly occurrence. Normally I would give it a miss, simply because of the negative content of most of his letters. The saddest thing is that I have never yet seen one praising someone or something.

It was the head-line 'value for money' that caught my attention. As a Parish Councillor for Linton, the one I am sure he is referring to, I was deeply offended by his comments. Not one name was mentioned  but it was a personal attack on all of us including the clerk, whose efforts in restoring the allotments, mentioned in his letter, have been tireless to say the least.

She is an excellent clerk and earns every penny she is paid. She, along with the present councillors, try and do their best for the Parish and its inhabitants. God forbid if we ever became a talking shop and did nothing, then I would say do away with them.

As for choosing clones, I spent eight years as a district councillor before coming to Linton, and I am nobody's clone, I assure you Mr Horne. As for a wise old bird, could there not be two who give you the bullets to fire. I prefer talking face to face when issues of this nature occur, not writing to the press at every tick and turn.

Elected or co-opted, who cares as long as they have the community at heart, and prefer doing rather than criticising. Heather Evans from Walford and Nigel Vandyck, said what needed to be said in their replies.

For the benefit of the wider Gazette readers; Gorsley is in both Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, hence the title Linton, which is totally in the latter. Maybe this bugs Keith Horne and his wise old bird(s).

In conclusion, chatting with friends, I wagered a fiver that he would reply to Heather Evans letter, there were no takers.

 Ken Downham by e-mail, Linton