AS one of the leading members of the Labour Group of councillors in the 1990s, I was very disappointed to read, yet again, the unfounded accusation that "We did not give a jot for green spaces".

I have reminded your readers in the past of the fact that, on September 9, 1992, with the unanimous support of the Labour members of the planning committee, I successfully proposed refusal of planning permission for development on Ronkswood fields.

This was fully reported in the Evening News.

Also, on January 30, 1993, I wrote a letter to the Leader of the Labour Group advocating the abandonment of the proposed scheme to develop Cripplegate Park and the riverside.

I argued that this proposal did not have the support of most electors or Labour Party members and should not be proceeded with.

This motion was carried by a large majority at the subsequent Labour Group meeting and consequently the idea was scrapped. This also was prominently reported in the Evening News.

All this followed my tenure of office as Chairman of Technical Services early in 1992, during which I was instrumental in bringing before the city council a proposal to adopt 580 acres of land to the north of the city into the Green Belt.

The Labour Group also supported the incorporation of an extensive area of the city as Green Network and this is now included in the Local Plan.

I do not know whether the accusations denying these facts are due to malice or to ignorance, but I find them hard to tolerate.

I do, however, have the comfort of knowing that I received a good deal of appreciation at the time from many Labour supporters, Ronkswood residents and, not least, from Ann Brock, the then Leader of the Conservative Group.

Democracy will only flourish if those with opposing views have respect for each other and for truth and honesty.

This has been sadly lacking in some of your more persistent correspondents on this subject.

CLIFFORD LORD,

Worcester.