Does Jill Jakeman (Your Letters, April 25) really believe that the relatively small number of livestock currently grazing Castlemorton Common justifies spending £1 million on cattle grids?

This number of stock is declining as the younger generation of commoners find easier ways to earn a living.

Malvern Hills Conservators, in partnership with English Nature, say that, in order to manage the common, the scrub and gorse must be kept down, and grazing sheep is the best way to do it.

They do not produce any evidence this will work; they do not say where the sheep will come from; nor do they say how many thousand sheep will be required. However, the whole argument for cattle-grids is based on the increased number of sheep that will be needed to "manage" the common.

Mrs Jakeman stated that at the public meeting in Welland no-one put forward alternative suggestions; this was because most people were confused by what they had already heard. Many were thinking what is wrong with the common as it is? Many were confused by English Nature wanting to encourage ground nesting birds and rare plants on the one hand, and yet wanting the common cleared to ground level on the other. The only suggestion that I would put forward is for local people to form monthly working parties.

One thing is for certain in the proposals of the Conservators - the people who use and enjoy the common receive little consideration.

Richard Chamings, Woodlands, Castlemorton Common.