Furthermore, it also appears from your report on Page 2 of the same edition, that the matter was dependant on who was able to say the most in the ridiculously short time of two minutes. Even a boxing match has three minute rounds for two contestants. In that instance the final decision affects only two people for a short time, but the decision on the care home will affect possibly thousands of people over probably 100 years.

Perhaps Coun David Parker is correct in saying that 'the application is premature', but he might have been even more correct to have said that the decision was premature and made in haste before the new Administration takes over.

While having no opinion to express on the pros and cons of the proposed care home or the use of the site, the writer is appalled by the way the matter has been conducted to date.

Chairman Coun Frank Harrington was obviously in a most difficult, embarrassing situation. But should he not have used his right to express his opinion that when the rules that are the rules are incorrect, those rules must be adjusted when such important and far reaching issues are at stake? Would this not by convention have made the decision invalid?

Being neither lawyer nor politician, I do not know the answer, but there is no rule or law that prevents one from thinking.

There still appear to be no takers for the eyesore that the boarded up building that was The Mount Care Home on the Ashington Road is becoming? This begs the question 'Does Morpeth really need another care home?' when Northumberland County Council is still allowing a good one to fall into disrepair in order to support its misconceived decision on closure?

On an entirely different issue, may I ask your correspondent E.A. Huggan to 'say more' to refresh our memories about the YMCA? or were the events referred to before we came to Morpeth in 1968?

N.F. BATEMAN
Morpeth