AS the last mayor of Malvern, I have been saddened by many of the decisions taken by Malvern Town Action Group since it 'swept to power' last year.

We read, stunned, about its cavalier treatment of the gravestones in Great Malvern Cemetery and about the plight of Malvern Wells residents, who are still waiting for Malvern Town Council to agree to replace the bus shelter on Belle Vue Island or its proposed alternative location near Warwick House. The old Bran Tub premises are still empty. Surely they should have been put to some use by now.

At least MTAG's inaction has ensured the continued use of Avon Close park.

MTAG's recent cancellation of six performances of Bands in the Park is especially distressing, particularly as one of the cancelled bands is our own Malvern Hills District Brass Band.

When I was a member of the town council, these Sunday afternoon concerts were staffed by the councillors themselves. Councillors put out the chairs, acted as marshals and performed litter-picking duties afterwards. Are the present incumbents too grand to do likewise?

The town council was seen as part of the community and we made ourselves as accessible as possible. Now the Belle Vue office main entrance is locked and visitors have to beg for entry at the side door. What are the councillors afraid of?

Action is defined in my dictionary as 'process of doing, exertion of energy, lawsuit or battle'. Which definition best describes MTAG?

The change from mayor to chairman has been marked by the absence of a civic leader from Malvern, the largest town in the district, and has been commented on constantly throughout the past year.

There was no town council civic service to celebrate achievements in the town and no civic charity ball. Both events attract guests to Malvern, both from the local community and from neighbouring councils and raise the profile of the town throughout the county.

FRANCES VICTORY (former mayor 2002-2003), Wells Road, Malvern Wells.