DEAR EDITOR - The time has come for the people of Droitwich to face up to what is happening in the town and the consequence of a concerted campaign to contest just about everything that is being proposed to enhance the commercial and life quality of Droitwich.

Wychavon District Council members and officers have worked hard to reach the point where there could be an investment of some £20m. in Droitwich, but there are those who, it would appear, are deliberately setting out to obstruct. Everyone is entitled to an alternative view, but that is not what I am referring to.

The time has come for everyone to come out into the open. Councillors from Droitwich should publicly state what they know and in what action groups they are participating.

It may be thought that the recent parish poll was more to promote the financial advantages of those who have a commercial interest in the Kidderminster Road site than to benefit the residents.

I believe Droitwich was misled in the parish poll and on the future of Kidderminster Road. The people of Droitwich are entitled to ask for their money back, some £5,000. It may be reasonable to ask Tesco to refund the £5,000 to the people of Droitwich, and indeed I have written to Tesco on these lines.

In my lifetime I have seen Droitwich become a 'has been' town. In my youth it probably attracted more visitors than any other part of Worcestershire.

Wychavon is promoting an exciting regeneration package, including a revitalising of the shopping centre, with the proven advantages of keeping shops in the town; an exciting leisure facility in the lido park; and the restoration of the Droitwich Canal.

We have promoted this total package to Advantage West Midlands. Major applications for funding are currently in progress. But speaking personally I can see no point in spending £10m. on restoring the canal to bring visitors to a third-rate small town. Councillors and the public should not delude themselves, if these negative action groups succeed that is what it will become.

To the wider public of Droitwich we are saying we are not giving up on you. You deserve better than what you are getting from these so called action groups. Their action will lead to no action.

The latest negative act is an application to list the lido. It is a spoiling application that says if we can't have our way we will try and see that you don't have yours.

A listing would not help SALT one iota, in fact it would kill off anybody doing anything but permanently closing it down.

The plans for Waitrose are in, clearer proposals for the lido are awaited, funding for the canal is being negotiated.

Several proposals for economic development are in early discussions.

For heaven's sake start talking the town up instead of doing your best to turn it into a ghost town.

M C Meikle,

Leader, Wychavon District Council,

Civic Centre, Pershore.