MRS Warner's statement (Letters, April 16) that "the council are not listening" about the redevelopment of Whitefield centre is difficult to reconcile with the facts. She knows, of course, that we listened to two packed public meetings, both of which I chaired.

After the second, most of the councillors for Whitefield and Unsworth signed a joint statement which we put to the planning committee asking them to look favourably on the proposal for a Morrisons store in Whitefield. In response, and despite a recommendation from planning officers to reject the application, they deferred that decision to allow for further discussions. The council's executive committee also rescinded their previous decision to make McLean Homes the preferred developer, thus restoring the "level playing field" between both developers.

Since then, progress has been made in talks with both Dransfield and Morrisons regarding store layout and design. Further work needs to be done on road traffic issues, particularly relating to the Quality Bus Corridor through Whitefield, but there is considerable hope that major differences can be reduced to the point where the planning committee will be willing to reconsider the Dransfield/Morrisons scheme.

Meanwhile, McLean Homes, or anyone else for that matter, have every right to put alternative proposals forward. Far from being a threat, competition between developers strengthens the council's ability to protect the interests of the people of Whitefield and Unsworth. That is why we brought in Dransfield in the first place.

COUNCILLOR

DEREK BODEN