ONCE again, the season is upon us, when, after many months of ignoring the hands which help to pay their food bills, the councillor birds pop their heads out of the council chamber nests and start to crow as loudly as possible.

They want to impress us with their real and imaginary achievements, hoping that if they make a loud enough noise, we will forget their failures of the past. They appear to think we should be impressed by accolades granted by obscure inspectors, who have probably been appointed by their masters in Westminster.

Surely, we could not fail to be impressed by the praise from these minor inspectors, the same inspectors who fail to question the feelings of frustration and resentment of those who are not councillor birds and have to reside in the great outside world.

Granted you had lovely displays of flowers which deserved praise, especially for the clever way they drew the eyes upwards away from the uneven pavements and unrepaired roads but not too high in case the poor street lighting becomes obvious and of course the displays encourage visitors away from the unswept litter on the back streets.

Oh, what clever councillor birds you have been. However, you don't appear to realise what any wise house sparrow could tell you, that if you only attend to the cosmetic appearances whilst the fabric of your foundations fall apart, the problem doesn't disappear it gets worse!

Also, when you crow about the low level of debt you don't bother mentioning whether this is because of poor policies or bad investment on your part! Yes, you have improved the parks pity not many children are able to use them as they are too far away still this doesn't worry these wise birds.

They decide to take an area of green belt used as a play area by generations of children, to stick a building on just the place for dancing lessons.

These are the same councillor birds who have no feeling for the history of the place they are supposed to represent. If the books don't balance, find something to sell. Don't worry if previous, wiser and mainly unpaid generations of your predecessors have protected and invested for future generation to enjoy.

As to your question, why do so many people want to live here? That is the question some of us ask ourselves on a regular basis, whilst you are running things. Why, oh why?

Perhaps the coming period whilst you are away from your cushioned environment you may learn to listen and realise how far reaching have been the consequences of your decisions in the lives of others. You may also realise that if you had successfully carried out the responsibilities of the position entrusted to you, the results would be apparent, they would speak for themselves crowing would be unnecessary. Perhaps in time, you may be returned to your safe nest a much wiser bird, but I wouldn't count on it!

LOCAL HOUSE SPARROW'