WHEN is an issue not an issue? Answer: when a judge has given a final ruling and the time limit for any appeal has passed.

Whether or not Eastleigh Borough Council did the right thing with regard to finding a use for allotment land which was derelict because no one would take it, debate is now totally irrelevant because the process of council discussion and decision, public enquiry and appeal to the High Court has been completed.

That is why, as an Echo regular who hopes to find new ideas or new topics for discussion on the Letters page, in common with, I'm sure, almost all other readers, I groan when I see yet again attempts by the tiny rump of self-styled "allotment protesters'' to re-run the original debate between themselves and the Council - because it was settled once and for all five years ago. It is, therefore, no longer a live issue. Like it or not, the court has ruled and that's that.

Mohamed el-Fayed no doubt feels the same. Privately I'm sure he will always remain convinced that the Duke of Edinburgh ordered the assassination of Diana and Dodi, but the jury at the enquiry came to the conclusion that he did not, and further discussion is a waste of time.

Pastures new, anyone?

Martin Kyrle, Chandler's Ford.