I READ your article “homes threaten parish’s rural life” in your paper dated February 19 with astonishment.

This was clearly an article to fill up a space because of lack of news.

Cllr Westbrook returned to Melksham Town Council in January after a councillor stood down and believes that slinging mud is the way forward. Interestingly, after the town council hostile takeover of Melksham Without Parish Council was voted out by Wiltshire Council.

Now, let me see, the parish council doesn’t contribute financially to the town. Wrong. As a council we give money to the Christmas lights committee, have offered to pay a percentage for the upkeep of the Market Place toilets next to the art cafe, 50 per cent of the costs towards the implementation of the neighbourhood plan, which the parish council and town council and other members of the community are working together on.

We give grants to the Community Safety Partnership and consider other applicants for grants on their merits. We also maintain the new sports facility near Herman Miller, which I am sure the residents of the town use and are very welcome to do so.

Question. Would town residents like to contribute to the upkeep of Melksham Without’s play parks or allotments out of their council tax? Let me answer that question – I guess not.

And remember it was not so long ago that the town council made the parish council homeless, leading to the council having to find alternative offices. So instead of the hostility towards Melksham Without Parish Council, maybe Cllr Westbrook would like to help fight against large-scale development and try to achieve what is best for Melksham and Without and get the best for both communities.

Coun Jan Chivers, Eden Grove, Whitley, Melksham