I MUST reply to the letter from K Marshall, accusing me of making excuses for the lack of response by the people of Evesham to the charges of homophobia and racism. I was making excuses for no one, rather I was trying to put across the point that there is no problem in the first place. I know it galls members of the politically correct brigade when other people do not share their ability to see the world the way that they do, but believe me we are all too aware of the problems in society. Of course local folk show more interest in the re-location of the Post Office and the potential loss of the Regal cinema - these problems do exist, and therefore these issues do exercise peoples' concern.

Ron Payne, Lynwood Close, hampton, Evesham via email.