PEGGY Thomas suggests building an eco-village on available Ushers' sites in Trowbridge, with human scale activities, instead of another "temple to consumerism".

Unfortunately, we are faced with the rising cost of the welfare state, now causing economic difficulties in a near world recession.

Social security, national health and state education cost over £200 billion, which is about 60 per cent of total government spending. The Government will get more in debt at a time when personal debt has increased, and no doubt there will be more stealth taxes. For years we have relied on "economics of scale" to increase wealth by having bigger units of production and commerce; so have other countries. This causes "consumerism". It enlarges the tax base and provides more money for government and local authorities to spend.

Getting rid of consumerism would mean replacing the centralised welfare state with something like the Victorian Friendly Societies based on family responsibility with special help for the poor. No bad thing; but the government would need to leap from a pinnacle of its temple and land without hurt. A parachute would be required.

Take heart. The Archbishop of Canterbury in this year's Lent Course condemns "NHS mentality". I think he refers to the desire for dependency.

CHARLES COPLAND-GRIFFITHS,

Trowle House,

Wingfield,

Trowbridge.