As I pen this letter on the shores of Iona, perhaps the importance of distinguishing fact from convenient fiction is more instinctive than usual. Convenient fiction was all too prevalent in some of last week s comments, in readers letters on the Foundati

As I pen this letter on the shores of Iona, perhaps the importance of distinguishing fact from convenient fiction is more instinctive than usual.

Convenient fiction was all too prevalent in some of last week's comments, in readers' letters on the Foundation's town centre proposals, and these need correcting.

First, however, can I add my congratulations to William Armitage on his MBE, he has been for some years, and remains, a valuable member of the Foundation's Board of Management - a Board which has had the vision to promote exciting plans for the future enhancement of Letchworth Garden City's town centre.

These plans do not seek to mimic Hitchin, Stevenage or, indeed, anywhere else. They aim to create a vibrant, sustainable, visually pleasing town centre, which will sit comfortably in the regional hierarchy of shopping destinations.

The plans will not remove the opportunity for key retailers to use pavements, however, they will make short term, free, car parking much more convenient, as requested, over the years, by town centre retailers and shoppers, most recently in the response to the Foundation's widespread public consultation on its town centre proposals - a consultation, incidentally, which did not involve leading questions.

I look forward to submitting the necessary planning applications and associated requests to NHDC for Compulsory Purchase Orders not too long after my return from God's own country.

In the meantime, I return to more spiritually uplifting matters on Iona.

STUART KENNY, Director General, Letchworth GC Heritage Foundation

* Well done Letchworth Heritage Foundation, you have stirred up some interest in the World's First Garden City. Yes, the World's first Garden City. The Foundation's ideas for the regeneration of the town will not improve the town but just change the lives of hundreds of people who work and live in the areas to be knocked down for ever. The look of the town will change and lose its character.

We as townsfolk put these people in charge to work for us, so shouldn't they listen to us! It is our money that's being used! Instead of knocking down what we have let us improve the look of the town. We are not going to compete with Stevenage, Welwyn GC or Milton Keynes, but we can be different as we are The World's First Garden City. Let us use that title to sell the town even more.

The reason the town has empty shops has a lot to do with the higher rents and leases. We have a lot of charity shops but they do a good job for their cause, but as a town we are famous for the small shops and boutiques and people do shop here a lot as we are different.

So come on Letchworth Heritage Foundation listen to the people who live and work in the town. Do not take away the town's individuality and character, it is what Letchworth is all about, The world's first.

PETER A WRIGHT, Rowan Crescent, Letchworth Garden City