IN response to the letter in The Crow last week from Martin Thornhill of the St Albans Taxpayers Alliance, as one of the town councillors who he rebuked for a negative reaction to the North Herts District Council s Local Development Framework, I would l

IN response to the letter in The Crow last week from Martin Thornhill of the St Albans Taxpayers Alliance, as one of the town councillors who he rebuked for a "negative" reaction to the North Herts District Council's Local Development Framework, I would like to state that I stand by that response and am indeed proud to do so.

What Mr Thornhill does not seem to comprehend is that the reason we responded in the way we did is not because we fear re-development of Royston, or the creation of more wealth and employment opportunities for our town, but for the very lack of such opportunities that the plans would bring.

Has Mr Thornhill seen our reply in its entirety?

If he has, he will also note that we have agreed with many of the proposals where they will be of benefit to future generations.

But what we are not prepared to accept is that Royston should take the major burden of new housing, over and above its fair share of the North Herts quota (especially when other towns are hardly taking any), and especially when there is no corresponding increase in the required infrastructure to cater for the huge growth in our population.

Royston has the fewest shops and family leisure facilities, and the lowest number of high calibre employment opportunities in North Herts and it is not being negative or wishing to preserve things in "aspic" as Mr Thornhill states, to try to keep our town looking nice and valuing our historical buildings.

I do not know whether Mr Thornhill lives here or not and if he does not, why he is so interested in Royston, especially when he appears to be representing a large and very different town like St Albans, but I do, and I know that I and other town councillors will continue to fight for the vibrant, high quality future that Royston and its residents deserves.

Cllr LINDSAY DAVIDSON

Royston Town Council