Copy of a letter sent to Councillor Keith Burrows, Hillingdon Council cabinet member with responsibility for transport and planning.

I HAVE been waiting to see if you had any explanation for stating in an email to me that the Transport for London consultation on the U7 extension showed a majority in favour - when in fact it showed a majority against.

I'm not certain whether you simply misread the figures or had been incorrectly briefed.

As you haven't replied, I'm still none the wiser.

In addition now, I'm wondering what explanation you are able to provide for telling the Gazette that the U7 extension has the support of a vast majority of local residents and all the local residents' associations [Online anger at 'mad' bus scheme,Gazette,February 25].

After those quotes appeared, I submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Hillingdon asking for details of all communications the council had received from local people and local residents' associations either in favour or against the scheme.

In reply, I've been told that there were three in favour,one against and no communications from any local residents' associations either way.

They haven't contacted you and you haven't contacted them.

I would like to ask you therefore on what basis you asserted that all the local residents' associations supported the scheme?

To my knowledge, only one local residents association has a view - and it's opposed!

I'm also mystified as to how the FOI people at Hillingdon were informed by your department that only one communication had been received against the scheme,when, as you know, many of us have been in contact over a period of months opposing the scheme.

It really isn't good enough to keep on issuing statements claiming support for this scheme.Residents feel justifiably aggrieved when they are totally ignored, but to some extent see that as par for the course anyway.

However, what we don't ever expect is for a senior elected (and now salaried) representative to defend a damaging and unpopular project by issuing statements which appear to have no basis in fact.

Unless there is a satisfactory explanation for the huge chasm between reality and what you've said in emails to me and in statements to the press, I'm drawn very sadly to the conclusion that you should not remain in your post.

Residents often have to do battle with the council over proposed changes to their environment; sometimes these changes will involve residents doing battle with other residents as well as the council.

Losing in those circumstances is bearable,because that's democracy.

JONATHAN HAYLES,

Turner Close, Hayes.