A SENSE of deja-vu descended when I learned last week that more "travellers" had pitched camp in the neighbourhood, this time in Popley.

Once again, I immediately contacted the borough council and local police, exploring options.

It is time to raise the issue in Parliament again.

Successive governments have clearly failed to address this issue effectively. I favour the principle of people pursuing lifestyles of their choice - but not if this impinges adversely on others.

ON my visit to BCOT last Friday, we discussed, among other issues, the financial problems facing local colleges.

In 2002/03, Government put in an extra £1.2bn, but taking on extra students and unavoidable costs - such as increased pension costs - meant that most colleges gained inflation-only rises in 2003/04, and are expecting little more this year.

The Government rightly argues for the reform of education for 16 to 19-year-olds and calls for an adult skills strategy, but this comes at a price, and at the moment the cash simply is not there.

THE Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.

With Alzheimer's Awareness Week approaching (July 4 to 10), I am reminded that about 640 Basingstoke residents suffer from dementia and that almost three times that number will be affected by the consequences.

I am strongly supporting Alzheimer's Week. Its purpose this year is to highlight the impact dementia has on the whole family and to help children and young people understand what it is. I hope the week is an outstanding success.