A CORRESPONDENT (Letters, July 20) berated me for not being present for the travellers' site debate.

My colleague gave my apologies at the meeting. I had been present for five hours at the council meeting before I left. I was suffering from an injury from work. The meeting had been halted earlier because of colleagues' concerns for me.

This has been typical of the campaign casting slurs on hard working councillors. We, as local councillors, have tried to get modifications to help the residents, although opposing the development on behalf of residents. Others made promises they knew they could not keep and are now slinging mud.

We Liberal Democrat councillors have tried to support the residents.

COUNCILLOR DAVE BECKETT, Southampton City Council.