YOUR editorial was an apposite comment on the conduct of the recent meeting of the Malvern Hills Conservators.

Unfortunately, however, you fell into the same error as David Masters and myself: you appear to think, as we do, that Conservators are elected to represent the public interest. This is vehemently denied by the chairman and director.

In a recent letter to the Malvern Wells parish clerk, which he circulated to all members, the director wrote: "We are reminded that our Acts do not refer to Conservators as being representatives for the parishes or areas from which they come, they are elected or nominated to the board and as trustees of the charity to act in the interest of the charity and its objectives."

This emphasis on "the charity" is misplaced. The Conservators applied for charitable status in 1984 to secure certain tax benefits. For all intents and purposes, however, it is a hybrid local authority.

It is funded by a levy collected through the Council Tax and not by voluntary donations. Members are elected under the Representation of the People Act. Employees are paid in accordance with local government salary scales and are members of the county council pension scheme.

The constant references to "the charity" merely disguise some deep seated problems. Elected members are in a minority. Nine of the board do not even pay the levy which they impose on others. The parishes of Castlemorton, Welland, Newland and Powick do not contribute to the upkeep of the hills and commons. Malvern is grossly under-represented and some of the smaller parishes, Mathon in particular, are over-represented.

Until these problems are resolved, I am afraid it is difficult to see how the Malvern Hills Conservators can enjoy the confidence of the wider community. This is no reflection of the people they employ.

ALISTAIR MACMILLAN, Malvern Hills Conservator and Malvern town councillor, Alexandra Lane, Malvern.