The current waiting list of some 45 persons exceeds the amount still available to let.

However, because of the landlord's policy since the decision was taken to downsize the site, most of the vacant plots have become jungle.

These need a contractor to clear them before any normal person could take them on.

Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Tina Clarke, indicated in your paper last April that these would be cleared ready for tenants to take on.

This commitment has yet to be started and, with the rent period now due, could delay potential tenants from applying until next spring.

This will be too late for the frost to break down the soil into a workable condition.

With the present financial situation developing by the day into something akin to the 1930s, the only way some families will survive is to grow some of their own food while keeping fit in the fresh air.

The present committee for the Weston Favell allotments has made great strides in the last year on the take-up of plots and encouraging the new tenants to keep going in a friendly atmosphere.

Many new tenants are discovering its harder and more time consuming than appears on the gardening programmes but the rewards do come when harvesting the crops for the pot.
C Osborne,
Hillside Way, Weston Favell, Northampton.

Brown has failed to deliver goods
In the life of any professional politician, at some point party loyalty will clash with the reality of a situation.

Councillor McGhee's blind devotion to Gordon Brown led him to misrepresent the quote from George Osborne, which was described as misleading by a leading financial journalist, but he seems to think that his leader's "experience" is what our country needs, with a cross-party solution with British National Interest on the top of agenda, perhaps.

Last year with an imminent General Election being planned, Gordon Brown made a series of promises to the British people.

However the last year has shown that Gordon Brown and Labour have failed to deliver and have taken the electorate for granted in a cynical and arrogant manner.

The "experienced" Gordon Brown promised low inflation and stable growth, yet the reality for us now is zero growth and inflation at highest rate since 1992, running at 4.7 per cent, more than double the rate it was in 1997.

He also promised a Britain of full employment, yet the reality is almost five million people are claiming out-of-work benefits.

Also, let us not forget that Labour reneged on its promise to hold a referendum on the European treaty and signed away huge swathes of power to Europe.

Only transparency in any deals with the European Union will bring our nation close to understanding our national interest in Europe.

Quite how things could be lot worse, I don't know, but the return of the Cabinet Minister Peter Mandelson, who had to resign twice from the Government, just goes to show that Labour are in serious trouble to build the united team.

Despite Councillor McGhee's best efforts, people across Northamptonshire are paying the price for Labour's failure.
Ivan Sljivic,
Aberdeen Terrace, Northampton.

Desperate times
The return of Peter Mandelson to the Government is nothing short of incredible.

This is the man who has been ejected from the Government twice.

If the national press is to be believed, Peter Mandelson has always been at daggers drawn with Gordon Brown.

This suggests desperation, or is it too cynical to feel the previous incumbents of No 10 have influenced this decision?
Peter Minney,
Irondale Close, Northampton.

The big question
Re Peter Mandelson's return, I think the question that Gordon Brown asked that seemed to elude John Dickie in his column was; Who was the tall, dark-haired man who helped the Labour Party win three crushing election victories over the Tories?
David Brede,
Blossom Way, Little Billing, Northampton.

Our independent school is the best
In the short time since my child has been attending St Peter's Independent School in Northampton he has notably flourished.

The attitude among the children towards their school, work, life and those about them is no accident; it is the result of a vision and model which should be studied in detail and widely employed.

One should consider carefully the motives of those who would attack such a rare and valuable environment as that which St Peter's offers.

In the absence of full knowledge of all the facts upon which to make a truly informed and balanced judgement of matters, there is one simply measure for onlookers to apply; look no further than to the support for both St Peter's and Gerald Smith that is offered by the pupils, parents, staff and benefactors.

It will be seen to be passionate, resolute, unflinching and iconic.
David Richard Tobin,
Oxford Street, Wellingborough.

Help is here for the mentally ill
I write in reference to your article Mental health referral rate for police is 'medium' (September 12) to raise awareness that tomorrow is World Mental Health Day, a time to reflect on how we can all promote good mental health and treat people with mental distress fairly and with respect.

About one person in every three in Northampton will experience some form of mental health problem every year and a very few may face the frightening prospect of being detained for compulsory treatment under the Mental Health Act.

Mental health problems can affect anyone – male, female, rich, poor, young or old – and it can be a frightening and confusing experience for those affected and the people close to them.

The LSC exists to help vulnerable people, including those in mental distress, get the advice they need through skilled and dedicated providers.

Our Community Legal Advice service produces a free leaflet entitled Mental Health, which is available from the Community Legal Advice website www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk.

There is more information on the site to help people affected by these issues.
Glyn Evans,
Regional Director, Legal Services Commission in the Midlands.

Attractive . . . but no shoppers
Further to Nick Spoors' article in the Chronicle & Echo of October 2, 2008, Traders do not want a car ban, I and many others have said before, if you close a street to traffic it damages trade.

Abington Street is a good example and it would be interesting to know how much trade was lost when that was conceived.

Any takers?

The traders in Gold Street have got it spot on. Close the road to cars, fewer people will visit.

St James Road, Black Lion Hill and Marefair have become a massive pavement.

The places where pedestrians cross have raised pimples that are probably just below the 1.5 inches that a paving stone has to be sticking up before you can sue the council if you fall over.

I wonder what clown designed them and what are they for?

Still it's a pedestrian-friendly area, if you don't have to cross the road.

I'm not surprised nobody from the WNDC was available for comment. If there are no shoppers, what is the point of it being more attractive?

I gather they work on the assumption that we will learn to live with it.
V Graham-Hole,
Elgin Street, St James End, Northampton.