MANY members of the St Ann's Residents' Association agree with John Handley, of Malvern Civic Society, (Your Letters, July 14) in his support for improvements to Rose Bank Gardens.

In 1830 Edward Foley paid for the creation of Foley Terrace, above Rose Bank Gardens, for the benefit of handicapped people and for those not robust enough to climb the hills.

Years of council neglect and ineffectual contract maintenance have resulted in overgrown trees and self-sown sycamores. The original viewing terraces are now a gloomy urban jungle.

Four years ago, the residents' association proposed a revival of the original Foley Terrace promenade walk from the 99 steps and back to the town through Rose Bank Gardens. This has been supported by Malvern Hills Conservators and initially welcomed as part of the Malvern Town Plan, but like so many self-improvement initiatives by local residents has since suffered from bureaucratic inertia.

DAVID BYRAM-WINGFIELD, chairman, St Ann's Residents Association.