I WRITE with reference to the two articles headlined "Blair hits out at village attitude" and "Cook follows Blair's line" published in the Evening News on June 15 and 27 respectively.

I have been asked by the parish council to set the record straight with regard to the allegation that the people of Throckmorton are guilty of "nimbyism" in opposing the building of a 750-bed asylum seekers centre in their village of 150 residents.

They already live in close proximity to the biggest landfill site in the county, as well as the site of a burial pit for 130,000 animals slaughtered during the foot-and-mouth crisis last year. Throckmorton residents can, I suggest, be forgiven for feeling that they have done more than their fair share in dealing with local needs and national crises.

The inevitable demands such a centre would place on already over-stretched health and education services make its location in such areas unsustainable. All these objections have been made by organisations representing the interests of the refugees themselves.

It should be remembered that the use of the airfield land for an asylum seekers' centre would be contrary to the Structure and Local Plans and the Government's planning policies.

The people of Throckmorton deserve more respect for the gravity of their arguments.

A M BELCHER (Mrs),

Clerk to Bishampton and Throckmorton Parish Council.