Regarding certain comments in the letter from T Hawke in last week's Packet, as most Falmothians are aware, the "Save the Rec" group has been operating successfully as and when required since 1993. The personnel has changed a bit but, it's a fact, the mother of one of our current organisers handed in a petition of 2,000 signatures back in 1998 to save the "rec" on that occasion.

We note T Hawke's comment about it costing a million pounds to repair the recreation ground. We're not sure about the costings, but what he/she is really saying is the rugby club have done a million pounds worth of damage to publicly-owned property. However, as the rugby club are, we are reliably informed, on a full repairing lease, they are responsible for its demise and as such are obligated to restore it themselves.

Also, the comment regarding the timing of our campaign. In fact we were up and running immediately Kerrier district council gave the farmer at Menehay planning permission. That wasn't until November and was still subject to appeal. Before that nobody had anything to object to. T Hawke's comments are a complete contradiction to Carrick housing manager Louise Dwelly's letter to our web site when she complained that people were objecting too early!

He/she also accuses us of attempting to "hoodwink" the people. What, just the 5,000 of them! Because that's how many have readily signed our simply-worded petition. A huge number having been sent through the post, so nobody was under any pressure and we have not knocked on any doors yet, apart from one of our members who last weekend, as an experiment, signed up 49 out of the 56 doors he knocked on - six were out and one politely refused.

We support affordable housing. The same as the vast majority in our town. People must realise that the lion's share of the proposed recreation ground development will not be affordable by local people on lower incomes.

"Save the Rec" has no political motives or interests. We will throw our full support behind any would-be councillor, totally regardless of whatever party or none he or she supports if they have "keep the rec green" on their manifesto. Meanwhile, we will continue to run our campaign in a fair, open and honest manner.

Save the Rec Campaign (name supplied)

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THE shortage of affordable housing in Falmouth is caused by the sale of council houses. The simple answer to the problem must be to allow councils to buy back the houses they sold off at the same discount price they sold them for. It was a mistake that publicly owned property was sold off cheaply to the tenants, who had the benefit of housing but are stopping future generations having the same chance. If this was done there would be no need to build affordable housing on the rugby ground or anywhere else in Falmouth.

Gordon Watts, Woodlane, Falmouth

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I THINK I've solved the problems of the recreation ground. Why not build the affordable housing at Menehay? I already wrote to the council suggesting this idea. They had the courtesy to reply, but with no reference to this suggestion.

Mrs D M Barton, Theydon Road, Falmouth