TORY council leader Peter Thompson tries to justify his £1m publicity budget by claiming that money needs to be spent on recruitment and advertising (Chronicle, January 15).

What he does not mention is that a large chunk of this extortionate sum goes on the central press office. Nor does he explain why Hounslow Council's total spend on publicity has increased 30-fold in just one decade.

In crowing about 'keeping the council tax low', Cllr Thompson fails to point out that, despite all the cuts in jobs and services, Hounslow still has the 11th-highest council tax of the 32 London boroughs. Poor value to say the least.

Lastly, he defends his party political use of the council magazine by stating that he had to 'put the record straight on the future of Gunnersbury Park'. He says this was necessary because the local MP had claimed that the council wanted to concrete over the site.

She was right. Leaked papers from last July's meeting of the board said it was considering using a 'significant acreage' of the park for luxury homes.

If Cllr Thompson is now saying that such plans have been dropped, then that is a victory for all of those who opposed the development.

PATRICK HORGAN Vicarage Farm Road, Heston.