SIR — I have been reading your letters from Cllrs Tim Taylor and Bruce Heywood (August 24) responding to a letter the previous week from Peter Humber. He relayed his views of the district council, saying he felt the council lacked integrity, was no longer viable and he questioned its political courage and honesty - a view probably shared by thousands of people who don't have the courage to write it down and send it in to be printed in the paper.

I'm afraid the response of the councillors was typical of people trying to defend what they do or don't do. I'm sure in their eyes, and in most people's eyes, they really do their best. It's not that that I'm responding to; it's the fact that someone has an opinion and cares to share it. Some people agree and others don't. That is what freedom of speech is all about.

The way the councillors have defiantly written in, defending what they do, amused me. If only they could do something with as much passion to stop the failings in this constituency, and in many others, as they have in condemning someone for having an opinion, whether it is right or wrong.

Life would be very much easier if we all stuck together and helped each other more in every way - politically, socially and every 'ally' we can think of. But as yet we haven't reached Utopia - so life goes on.

I'm sure Cllrs Taylor and Heywood do a good job and are men of integrity and I'm also sure Peter Humber is a man of integrity as well. So all their opinions can be listened to and, whether or not you are interested in them, you can have your opinion too.

I've always thought of life as a learning curve so have adapted to listening to both sides of a story or even an opinion. This is definitely one of those occasions when both sides should be listened to. My opinion on this occasion is, Government, local councillors etc are like Marmite: love it or hate it!

Martin Southam,

Blenheim Road,