I WRITE in response to a leaflet and voting slip which the Market Lavington Community Hall Trust has distributed within the village.

It highlights the reason why Market Lavington needs another hall we already have several, including a soon-to-be refurbished old school and strives to justify the building of yet more unwanted housing on the green in front of St Mary's Church to fund such a hall.

Were the trust members present at our village hall meeting in March where overwhelming local opinion was against a housing scheme?

I know that they were and can only put their continued over-riding of village opinion down to arrogance.

Or do they want to be remembered as the group who finally got the hall built? Their glory will be short-lived when it becomes obvious the money raised from housing still will not cover the cost of the hall.

In a further meeting in July their chairman, Mr Furminger, informed those present that there would be a village meeting and vote to decide the future of this site.

I assume the leaflet is a substitute for this. This is a cowardly way out as there is no opportunity for debate. If the hall and housing was such a good idea and something that the village wanted why not have a meeting? What is there to fear Mr Furminger?

You know as well as we do that it is not a popular idea and you prefer to hide behind a heavily loaded leaflet and not face those who oppose you.

Mr Furminger also stated in the July meeting any housing would not block the view of St Mary's Church from any angle including the surrounding properties. If you look at the sketch on the leaflet you will see this is not the case.

The leaflet mentions bringing the community together. This is not wartime Britain nor do we live in a fairy tale. The community has evolved in the 12 years since the last official village hall was demolished.

Do we need a new building for us to make friends with each other or do we muddle on as most people do?

The leaflet says the green is hardly used. It is used constantly. Why else would an informal "path" be worn on to the grass?

It also makes several other points in such a biased way many undecided will be steered into a "yes" vote.

I urge these people to think about the future of our village. A "yes" vote will allow the trust to steamroller over general opinion and, at worst, carve up a green for more housing without raising sufficient funds for the hall. At best, they will build a hall whose necessity is questionable.

Both result in the permanent destruction of a rare piece of village greenery, visible from miles around directly in front of the church.