Am I the only person to be astounded at the proposals by our council?

A few months ago, they insisted it was their "fiduciary duty" to sell off the land at Putney Garden Centre, against the wishes of local residents, for the maximum sum it would fetch - £1.5million I believe.

Now the council is proposing to sell-off a much bigger and better site, in Arabella Drive, for £1. Has everyone gone mad?

The excuse is that Chestnut Lodge, the residential home on the site, needs major investment, which the council is not prepared to provide.

What has happened to the Garden Centre money? Surely that would finance some improvements at Chestnut Lodge?

If the garden centre site, between the railway-line and road, is worth £1.5million, the site at Arabella Drive must be worth three or four times that. Any advance on £1?

B M SMEDLEY, West Hill Road, Southfields

November 30, 2001 13:30