PETER Luff is quite right in his stand to save parish councils. This is just another attempt by the Labour Government to erode the great democratic systems of our country.

It is possible that they see great financial savings, to further fund their qango's and other expensive Government initiatives, such as the multi-million pound Scottish Parliament and Welsh assembly buildings.

I disagree with Peter that parish councils' most important function is to do with pperators licences, which may be the case in Evesham and Pershore, but not so in other areas.

When I was a member of North Claines Parish Council much of our time was taken up on planning issues, and especially the Wychavon District Local plan. Planning is certainly an area where parish councils should have a greater role.

However, if Peter wants to win his argument, perhaps he should suggest to Tony Blair that he turns them all into qangos and he uses his "Patronage" to elect the members, made up of his elite group of friends, which seems the norm today.

Not bad for a government which was elected on a manifesto commitment to reduce the number of qangos but which has, in fact, increased them.

NIGEL D ADDISON,

Wolverley,

Kidderminster.