I ALSO attended the meeting to discuss bikers using Severnside North in Bewdley and had the courtesy to stay to the end, even though it became a shambles with residents and supporters of the Bewdley bikers all shouting and arguing amongst themselves.

While Paul and Carol Gittins as town councillors have done sterling work for the community over the years I feel their letter (Shuttle/Times & News, April 17) did not represent what actually went on.

Insp Jim Baker and Bewdley beat manager PC Nigel Barter told the meeting that restrictions on funding and manpower meant they had to prioritise their workload.

One of the major problems with this saga is that certain residents continue to telephone the police to complain.

We are lucky to have police back in Bewdley, working under the partnership schemes and policing in Bewdley is getting better despite the budget restrictions.

As to illegal parking, the main area where the bikers park is between the yellow lines and the river which is not technically a footpath. The footpath is, and has always been, in front of the houses and commercial properties on the left facing upstream.

To make the area where the bikers park illegal, would need a directive from the highways department.

As the owner of The Riverside Cafe said, the bikers have never caused any problems in Bewdley. He was more concerned about the troublemakers and yobs that we have problems with in the evening.

This is what the police, Chamber of Trade, Bewdley Business Group and many residents are saying.

From a purely commercial and tourist point of view, the business group and the chamber support the bikers who have been visiting Bewdley since the 1960s and earlier. They spend a lot of money in the town which helps to keep our diverse businesses going.

They do not cause trouble, do not get offensive and are part of Bewdley's infrastructure.

From a personal point of view I think we should all work together to make and keep Bewdley as it is - a great place to a live and work in.

I would suggest that all the parties concerned with this matter get together and have a good talk - no party politics, just common sense.

We could then explore the solution that Mayor Frank Baillie put to the meeting - the possibility of having our own Bewdley traffic warden.

I have had some great feedback from tourists, businesses and local residents saying how much better things are since we have the presence of police back in the town. We should not be complaining. We should be all be working together in partnership to make Bewdley a better place to live and work in.

COLIN BILLINGHAM

Founder member, Bewdley Business Group; acting press officer, Bewdley Chamber of Trade; Bewdley Police Radio Link Control.