SO once again procrastination rules in Malvern, as the Conservators, instead of using a map and common sense to survey the Hills, which would have enabled them to at least partially open them for Easter, hide behind a so-called 'risk assessment' carried out, no doubt at great cost, by MAFF.

This makes the absurd suggestion of installing numerous potentially polluting and almost certainly completely useless disinfectant mats. Interestingly, these mats are not required on the newly opened Wells and Newland commons or on the Poolbrook commons, some of which have been open all along.

Of course, this prolonged closure will please some bird-watching members of the local population, who would like the public barred permanently, but each week of closure is a further nail in the coffin of local businesses already struggling to survive. Come on Conservators, wake up and make some decisions yourselves; other authorities have managed it, so can you!

SIMON N GARDNER, Coombe Green, Birtsmorton.