Thanks must also go to the prolific Conservative letter writer group who have been instrumental in their regular co-ordinated contributions. As someone once said: "There is no such thing as bad publicity." How true that is.
Since my recent elevation to leader of the entirely voluntary council here in St Neots I have been likened to a dictator, prime minister and I even overheard one Tory call me 'king Derek Giles'. However, all this high profile nonsense does not come without major concerns about security and my personal safety.

Little did I realise that I would either have to armourplate and bullet-proof my humble Honda Civic car or change it to a limousine that befits my new status. How many personal bodyguards should I have? Will they be armed and wear sunglasses, and what sort of personal jet should I be looking at for visiting neighbouring parishes? These are all issues that I need to address.

Perhaps I should take advice from Cllr Bob Barnes, chairman and leader of Eynesbury Hardwicke Parish Council, who recently wrote to us putting his stance on democracy in other councils.
I have great admiration for chairman Bob, as I affectionately call him. This elder statesman actually achieved becoming leader of his Eynesbury Hardwicke Parish Council without any of his electorate ever actually casting a vote for him.

I am sure some of your readers will be avidly scanning the letters page for the next amusing personal attacks on me but I wonder if the majority of your readers would prefer it if the prolific Conservative contributors actually came forwards with positive ideas and plans of their own instead of constantly being critical of others.
If they did we could certainly work together with them for the good of our great town of St Neots. Let St Neots flourish.
Cllr Derek Giles
Town Councillor, Eaton Socon Ward

A feeble attempt
>> Cllr Ursell recently drew attention to the disgraceful way in which St Neots Town Council is now being run (Town Crier, July 10).
One of the many abuses of power is that council business is discussed and decisions determined in secret LibDem group meetings prior to matters being put before all councillors. To compound the affront, most important matters are now only put before the full council under secrecy rules which first exclude press and public from hearing what is being proposed.

Outrageously, it was a member of this secret LibDem group, who stood against me last year and lost, who wrote to Your View with a feeble attempt to justify the exclusion of democratically elected councillors from decision making.

The same letter to the Town Crier also claims my facts and statistics are misleading and that I should "come to terms" with Lib Dem victory last year.
My view is that all elected councillors should make decisions together regardless of political party and should do so in the best interests of our town.

Secrecy, suppression of a minority and mysterious decision making outside of the council chamber should have no place at a town council.
There is one statistic which I hope your correspondent will not find too confusing and hopefully will help him to "come to terms" with the result of last year's election – Martin Land 765, Barry Chapman 946 (elected).
Cllr Barry Chapman
St Neots Town Council

Mast is needed
>> As an Orange user I am all in favour of the planning application for a phone mast at Little Paxton (Town Crier, July 24). For years I have suffered with poor reception in this area.
I have little time for people who protest over issues on an argument of no scientific basis. This mast is needed and the protesters quietly told where to go.
Richard Storey
Buckden

Support the lights
>> THIS year's collection in aid of the Christmas lights in Ramsey takes place from August 2-17.
Though Christmas may seem a long way off, this year we need to raise approximately £9,000 to fund lights in the town and the switch-on day activities. Please give your generous support so that we can continue to present the lighting display and switch-on event.

Should you not be at home when your collector calls, donations may be left at Barclays Bank, Great Whyte.
David Denman
Chairman, Ramsey Christmas Lights
Turvers Lane, Ramsey

Wonderful gesture
ON behalf of the St Neots Acorn Cancer Support Group I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Waitrose of St Neots for their magnificent donation of £672.90.

This wonderful gesture, which will make a huge difference to how we support those with cancer and their carers in the St Neots community, was made possible by the token charity scheme recently introduced at the St Neots store and I would like to thank everyone who contributed.
Gill Scott,
Specialist nurse
for the St Neots locality.