It must be admitted that we seem to have plenty of reason to do so these days, and it is true, too, that when people wilfully make a pig's ear of their responsibilities, a bit of opprobrium is deserved.

However, what is much more important is constructive criticism, so that things get better.

I wonder, sir, whether, with this in mind, you could see your way to changing your tune about the new order in local government which is about to take control here.

Whatever the benefits of the old system (and they were many) and however much we deplore the apparent waste and unseemly pay-offs of the past, from next spring we will have a new council and a new form of local government.

Do not the new councillors, whom we have elected, deserve our support and encouragement? Would that not make it easier for them to do their work on our behalf?

Please do not kill their morale before they even begin. Many of them would have preferred the old regime to have stayed put, but that has not happened, so we need to help them to give the new their best shot.

This does not mean slavishly praising all that they do, but it does require us to take an intelligent interest, applaud where things go right, understand the difficulties that the council faces and, if we think we know better ways, suggest them, but do so constructively.

That is better than slamming them all the time, which, I am afraid, seems to be the tenor of many who write to your newspaper – and they seem to be backed up by you.

Give 'em a chance, sir (and all you moaning letter writers, too).

Ben Hopkinson,
Watershaugh Road,
Warkworth