I WRITE in response to the latest letter from James Millington (Letters, July 25), and as a Wyre Forest resident who is not a member of any political party.

It is surely time someone explained to Mr Millington that the vast majority of the Wyre Forest electorate do not feel, and have never felt, misled by Health Concern with its candidates and its councillors being described as "independents".

It has been obvious since before the last General Election that Health Concern, established to fight the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital, was a political party, and that the term "Independent" meant it did not have to toe the line of the Conservative, Labour or Liberal Democrat parties.

That is why Wyre Forest now has Dr Richard Taylor as its excellent independent Member of Parliament, representing the views of the electorate in the House of Commons.

Mr Millington states that: "instead of following a policy of persuasion, Health Concern adopted one of confrontation".

But what other choice was there after Tory and Labour MPs for the area failed to stop the downgrading threat from their respective governments?

He also describes Health Concern's tactics as "disastrous", yet from the number of the party's councillors at town, district and county levels, the great majority of Wyre Forest people clearly disagree with his views and will, no doubt, show their continued support for the party at the 2003 elections and beyond.

Perhaps Mr Millington has "shot his own bolt".

That is the beauty of democracy - we all enjoy an independent vote.

DAVID GUEST

Hurcott Road

Kidderminster