SIR — I was very concerned to learn that Somerset County Council is considering the sale of public amenity land on the Quantocks. The fear is that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

There was no mention of such a major change in policy prior to the last elections. Therefore in my opinion the county council has no mandate to pursue such a policy at the present time.

Where a reason to hold land has lapsed (eg a redundant depot) there might be a case for sale, although the guiding principle has always been that capital proceeds should be used only for capital expenditure.

To sell an asset simply to buy time during a funding crisis is not sound financial management. The only sustainable solution is to fund expenditure from revenue.

This is amenity land which belongs to the people of Somerset. The county council is merely the custodian.

It would be morally wrong to proceed with a sale until the electorate has had an opportunity to ratify or reject the proposal at the next election or an earlier referendum.

Would I be cynical in thinking that the timing of this announcement was designed so that the inevitable backlash would be diluted by festive spirit?

At the end of the day, ways must be found to generate the income to finance the level of public services demanded by the electorate or by statute. It isn't going to be easy but selling assets is not the solution.

John Dixon,

Periton Road,