I NOTE with interest your recent item concerning MHDC staff morale; this is not a new problem it has existed to my knowledge for the last three years and some time before then.

It is unfortunate that Coun Tom Wells sees fit to infer criticism of the CEO and attempt to make the problem a political issue; he knows full well that the problem existed prior to May 2000 and he shouldn't need me to remind him that he was a major player in that particular administration.

The difficulty cannot be viewed in the short-term: there is a deep seated internal problem which needs the attention of both the sitting councillors and an external review body, which is, as reported by the Malvern Gazette, about to make its findings known very shortly.

DAVID McKERRACHER, Croft Bank, West Malvern.