I am writing with reference to your article regarding the Royal British Legion not being involved in REME soldiers event in Alton (Bordon Post, October 21).
When David Knowles, the past national president and former chairman of the Royal British Legion, made his comments, did he not see all the proud legion standard bearers on parade to welcome home the troops or not realise the Alton Branch of the RBL p
rovided the soldiers with refreshments?
Maybe no one told him, while he was in office, that each RBL branch is allotted tickets to the Festival of Remembrance and has he not noticed all the standard bearers representing the RBL at the Royal Albert Hall?
Come on Mr Knowles, you should have gone to Specsavers!
Wendy Sargent
ex-Secretary, RBL Bordon Branch,
Park Street, Bordon
In reply to David Knowles' comments, the facts are irrefutable.
In attendance at the Alton event were 18 RBL standard bearers from all over Hampshire, including the Bordon branch standard bearer, all of whom were organised by one of Bordon Branch's most sterling members, Steven Johnson.
Alton Branch organised refreshments for the soldiers and their families after the event and a majority of the Bordon branch members were in attendance at the parade as were no doubt members of the Alton branch.
May I also add that the Bordon branch membership, including those who run it, have links to the ex-service family as do all branches.
Without being facetious, I would ask Mr Knowles to get his facts straight before making comments in the press to the detriment of the Royal British Legion.
John Dalton
Treasurer, Bordon Branch RBL
Hollybrook Park, Bordon
Letters echoing concerns about deluging rural sites with new homes plus 'affordable homes' and a travellers site are understandable.
Developers know the ropes and repeated applications and appeals leave councils with huge legal bills.
Portsmouth is riddled with developers packing every former petrol station, pub and vacant space with 'infill' building. They are like a rash coming back again and again until councils cave in.
The final nail in the coffin is the 'independent inspector' who repeatedly takes a different viewpoint and sweeps planning through.
Surely the biggest contradiction is East Hampshire District Council's comment: 'There is no need to refuse reserve land planning.'
So, we have enough land, do not need the houses but let's have some more anyway – this is total tosh, council claptrap, giving developers carte blanche to eye those juicy farmers' fields.
I urge locals to be equally ruthless. Like the French block the roads, do mass 'sit downs' and lean hard on council officials.
Hold noisy demonstrations, make them sweat.
Finally when planning permission is granted, and it will be without maximum effort, insist our councils insert a contract caveat so that our developers all have to reside in their 'affordable housing' for six months. Or better still, occupy a caravan on the mooted travellers site.
