Councillor Hodgson forecasts (letters January 24) that in years to come The LGCTC will be...the only ones dedicated to following the original concept of its founder , yet he criticised the referendum held by NHDC on the parish council proposal. Without a

Councillor Hodgson forecasts (letters January 24) that in years to come 'The LGCTC will be...the only ones dedicated to following the original concept of its founder', yet he criticised the referendum held by NHDC on the parish council proposal.

Without a referendum, our city would be named Rurisville, Wellworth or Alseopolis. Without repeated polls the first licensed premises would have opened 60 years earlier than 1962: Ebenezer and his successors believed in people power.

So, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, part 3, schedule 12, let six voters call for a public meeting, and if 10 more at that meeting call for a referendum, the district council is obliged to hold one. This is my suggestion for the referendum question. 'The parish council (LGCTC) has shown itself incapable of giving benefit to its electorate since inception and should be dissolved forthwith'. I can be contacted via email on nigel.jury@btopenworld.com

NIGEL JURY, Broadwater Avenue, Letchworth Garden City

* Your correspondent states the town council spent one and a half hours debating refuse collection.

Surely not a great time to discuss such an important subject. I hope he remembers that while supporting recycling the town council were against the fortnightly collection of food waste mainly on health grounds, a stance for which they were criticised by the district council.

I also hope your correspondent and your readers have noticed the quiet U-turn adopted by the District Council, in that food waste can now be put in both the brown and black bins effectively making a weekly collection of this waste.

Your correspondent complains that the town council is just a 'talking shop'. Again ignorance of what the town council does is clear. In the last two months your town council has, arranged a christmas tea party for some 200 of the town's old age pensioners, organised a carol service attended by some 300 people, and a christmas card competition within the local schools, selected a winner, and held a prize giving. Town councillors have spoken on local radio arguing for fair treatment for the traders affected by the Heritage plans for the town centre (did you notice the deafening silence from NHDC on this subject), have criticised these plans as not being characteristic or in scale for the town, after holding a public meeting and garnering the views of the residents. They have supported the residents of Gorse Close in their opposition to the proposals for the old Grammar School. Talking shop?

The town council was recently criticised in The Comet by two district councillors for wasting public money recruiting extra staff to help run the council and assist with our expanding involvement with the community. Do your readers know that town councillors voted not to receive either allowances or expenses to which they are entitled. Contrast this with our friends at NHDC who in the fiscal year 2006-2007 claimed the staggering sum of £221,856 in expenses and allowances. This year the sum is expected to be greater. The two councillors concerned between them claimed £10,449.46 of the sum. Waste of money! If the two councillors involved want to save money perhaps they can persuade their colleagues to work for nothing like the people who serve on your town council.

CHRIS HARLOW, Vice Chairman, Letchworth Garden City Council

* In the January 17 Comet, both Mr Saunders and Mr Williams ask how we in Letchworth can legally dissolve Letchworth Town Council. Even if there is no legal mechanism to do this, there may be another way.

When elections for the council come round again, it surely must be possible to find the pledge that if they are elected to office, they will vote to disband the council.

DAVID GUESS, Lammas Way, Letchworth Garden City