A newsletter came through my door from the Conservative party, patting Basildon Council on its back for the outcome of Dale Farm, returning the site back to green belt.

It claimed the previous Labour council allowed it to happen in 2001, but at the time it did try to remove the travellers, but was overruled by minister John Prescott.

The same thing happened at Sadlers Farm.

If the Conservatives are so interested in green belt land as small as Dale Farm, how come they have sold off playing fields to be built on to pay for a sports stadium? Is that down to Labour?

K Cowell
Crown Close
Basildon