I WOULD like to point out one or two observations to the members of the Countryside Alliance.

Their genuine grievances about the lack of banking facilities, the closing down of village post offices, lack of affordable housing and the poor public transport service, did not suddenly spring up in May, 1997.

Remember Mrs Thatcher? She allowed free enterprise to dictate the pace of our economy because, she said, "one cannot buck the market".

The Tories de-regulated our public transport and fragmented our railway system before it was sold off. Where was the voice of the Countryside Alliance then, to demonstrate against those Tory policies, which led to the present shortage of these basic rural amenities? Why didn't they hold the country to ransom?

Perhaps the Countryside Alliance thinks that the present Labour Government is a soft touch. Yes, those Tory policies have come home to roost.

MR L SPITERI,

Rainbow Hill,

Worcester.