I was very surprised to read Mick Farrant s rather unpleasant letter (Is Heath view really so important, H&H letters June 7). Firstly, he suggested that because I have been campaigning to preserve our local environment (for example, by trying to protect t

I was very surprised to read Mick Farrant's rather unpleasant letter (Is Heath view really so important, H&H letters June 7).

Firstly, he suggested that because I have been campaigning to preserve our local environment (for example, by trying to protect the view from the Heath and successfully opposing damaging planning applications) this means that I don't care about crime.

Well, it is possible to do more than one thing at a time! Our active campaigns cover key local issues. One is the local environment. Another is certainly crime.

As a local councillor, I have backed Camden's Conservative-Lib Dem administration in funding more officers in the borough. As chairman of the scrutiny committee covering community safety, I have authorised dispersal zones to be set up at short notice, including one covering part of Gospel Oak. And the committee has run an enquiry into crime on estates, which resulted in 25 specific recommendations, almost all of which have been accepted.

My colleagues Cllrs Lulu Mitchell and Keith Sedgwick have also been very active in this area, Keith being attacked on two occasions by drug dealers he personally confronted.

Secondly, the tone of Mr Farrant's letter was unpleasant and personal, and I notice that he did not find space to mention that he is a prominent Labour Party activist!

I respectfully suggest to him that he damages both his party (which does not concern me) and public life in general (which does) through this kind of personalised attack. Please stick to the issues and the facts, Mick. Then perhaps we can start to restore some of the trust in public life that has been lost in the last 10 years.

Cllr Chris Philp

(Cons) Gospel Oak

I am surprised that Mick Farrant should lambaste Cllr Chris Philp for attempting to preserve the London Skyline and our local environment (Is Heath view really so important, H&H letters June 7).

Mr Farrant cites more pressing priorities such as reduced police presence. Yet Conservatives on Camden Council, including Cllr Philp, have successfully pressed for more police in the last year. Gospel Oak Conservative Cllr Keith Sedgwick has even been attacked twice for confronting drug dealers in his neighbourhood and he has courageously remained resolved to pursue the problem.

Speaking of priorities. we all have our political hobby horses. Mine is ensuring that Camden's police are impeccably polite while undertaking 'stop and searches'. However, Mr Farrant seems passionate about the quality of Camden's custody suites.

While those arrested should be kept in decent conditions, I - and most people - are more interested in the victim, not the villains!

I think that the destruction of the London skyline in favour of glass and steel office blocks is a major political issue, as is the protection of our local environment.

So is crime, and local Conservatives have been active and successful on all these issues.

Jonny Bucknell.

Chamberlain Street, NW1