IN reply to Mrs Parkinson's letter (The Journal, November 3), let me first say that I deeply resent her insulting suggestion that the people represented by Chris Maile are 'rent a mob'.

I have always believed in making my opinions known and have never been part of a 'rent a mob', nor am I now! Moreover, Mr Maile does not have to rent any kind of support -- rather the opponents of such schemes as Xanadu and the busway are grateful for his support.

The Parkinsons repeatedly try to convince us there is no opposition to the busway. Why then were the consultation meetings packed to capacity with objectors?

Why was Mr Maile's recent meeting in Tyldesley so well attended that people had to stand at the door because the room was full of objectors?

As for the farmers, at the public consultations, at least three local farmers spoke out against the busway -- I know, I heard them, I was there.

The only people who have publicly supported the busway proposals seem to be Mr and Mrs Parkinson, Cllr Jarvis and a man whose name escapes me but lives in Athol Crescent, Hindley Green.

Mrs Parkinson states that the people of Leigh do not have an axe to grind -- why not? The busway is supposed to start at Leigh. I live in Lowton and I use this leisure area frequently.

Both the Parkinsons want to know where the seven miles of open countryside is -- in his letter (Journal, October 20), Mr Parkinson mentions the lunar landscape he saw from the train in the 1950s. Has he forgotten that Greater Manchester Council, to their credit, spent a great amount of public money on regenerating this area? Has either of them ever walked the whole route from Holden Road to Ellenbrook, as I have, and seen whole families having a grand day out 'in the country'? As for the son-in-law's farm, I am fascinated by this place where even the fields are not open country. What kind of fields are they?

There is also the question of a rail link -- if Mrs Parkinson took the trouble she would find there are proposals for a rail link which would cost less than the busway and cause less disruption to the environment.

As a final question, is it purely coincidental that there appears to be a Frank Parkinson on one of the GMPTE's committees?

E.BOOTH

Chapel Walk

Lowton St Mary's