SIR – It’s extremely disappointing that a worthy organisation such as the Canal and River Trust should be supporting an attempt to paint a mural on the oil dock wall at Diglis.

Regardless of what the ecological experts may say, the dock walls have for many years provided a breeding ground for sand martins, an endangered species of migratory bird.

They nest in man-made holes in these walls every spring. Many of us derive great pleasure from observing their aerial acrobatics, which can be observed throughout the warmer months from the dock bridge.

To create this mural, the artist will undoubtedly need to erect scaffolding of some sort. This will effectively disturb the birds and prevent them from nesting.

One in four species of British birds are now in serious decline. We should not be making the situation worse.

Wildlife habitats between Worcester and Kempsey are already being lost at an alarming rate. Even more will vanish forever when the various housing projects planned for south Worcester get going.

And that is why Worcester City Council must show the intelligence and sensitivity to reject what is essentially a vanity project that will bring absolutely nothing to the area.

John Phillpott

Worcester