I HAVE been sent a copy of Points of View with Bill Green's letter about the Heritage Railways Association meeting in your wonderful Town Hall.

And following other replies last week, I wanted to put forward the view of the HRA.

The hire of the Town Hall and the excellent buffet lunch were billed direct to Brian Simpson MEP who very generously invited us at his own personal expense. Our delegates took a number of rooms in a local hotel, bought meals, visited several pubs and did some shopping in Warrington, thus contributing to the local economy. Therefore it is totally misleading to imply that our meeting was 'playing at trainspotting at our expense'.

Indeed, I find the comment rather insulting since Heritage Railways play an important part in preserving our great railway heritage, in order that future generations can see how steam and other locomotives worked and to give people a 'real feel' of how we travelled in the past. The turnover generated by our activities now exceeds £53 million annually and we provide employment, directly and indirectly, to several thousand people. It is clear from some of the comments contained in his letter that Mr Green has never visited a heritage railway, something I would strongly advise he do before he makes further comment.

Finally, the visit of the Heritage Railway Association was deemed a great success by all of us and we all left Warrington with fond memories and a wish to return.

I am just saddened that Mr Green has used our annual general meeting for political purposes.

It is a pity that what was a memorable weekend and Warrington's hospitable welcome should be spoiled in this way.

DAVID MORGAN

Chairman Heritage Railways Association