CAN I be allowed to comment on the way Horspath Parish Council is going about deciding on a proposed permanent war memorial to be erected on the village green.

I sympathise with Mr Brooks on the way that the council appears to be dragging its feet on making any decisions relating to the proposal.

On February 24 I sent a letter to the parish clerk, which was duly acknowledged, offering to call at every household in the village with a simple questionnaire asking their views on a yes, no or not interested basis in relation to the memorial.

Unfortunately my offer must have been rejected or fallen on deaf ears as I have yet to receive a reply.

Surprise, surprise! In April’s edition of The Horspath Newsletter, the council states that as it is “a very sensitive matter” for many people, it has decided to put out a detailed questionnaire with the newsletter, relying on it to be returned voluntarily.

My question to the council is if this questionnaire is so important and sensitive, why did it not take up my offer for me to take it personally to the households of the village? I would have obtained a 95 per cent response with the answers within two weeks. Now, 12 weeks later, we are still no further forward.

DAVID WRIGHT
Blenheim Way
Horspath, Oxford