DEAR EDITOR -- A supporter of parish councils, Mr Callaway, maintained in a report last week that prior to the parish council elections in May this year there was much negative comment regarding the probable cost of the Lickey End parish council should the pro-parish council gain control.

The figure used by the Anti-Parish Council group was that of the precept levied by Alvechurch Parish Council.

We do not believe that a parish council can be operated with a precept of £7 per year, as Mr Howard, a fellow pro-parish campaigner, stated in a letter to the village magazine in May 2002.

If a progressive, vibrant parish council is wanted, it has to be paid for.

Mr Callaway also suggested that the supporters of a parish council now have an opportunity, before the next election, to persuade the electorate of Lickey End of the benefits of a parish council.

If he was so sure that the electorate had been misled, why did he not take the opportunity to set the record straight. After all, he and his colleagues had the same opportunity to present their case as did the Anti-Parish Council Group.

What Mr Callaway is reluctant to admit, is that the results of two elections have clearly demonstrated that the electorate of Lickey End and South Marlbrook do not want a parish council.

C W Bateman

Anti-Parish Council Group

Lickey End

Bromsgrove