In recent weeks Claire Perry’s pronouncements have given considerable cause for concern.

Just before Christmas she was quoted as saying that Devizes hospital should be sold off for housing.

Had she been paying attention to local affairs such as the reaction to the proposed Coate Road development, she would be aware that the last thing Devizes needs is more large-scale housing developments.

Furthermore, if she is sincere about improving health services in Devizes, she would know that selling off the hospital would be madness.

Most recently she has also declared herself in favour of fracking, though this was tucked into the last few lines of her affecting piece about Parliamentary traditions.

Fracking is the most dangerous process ever devised for the extraction of gas.

It will provide benefits for no-one but the power companies. The potential for irreversible environmental damage should put it totally beyond the pale, but this government, and our MP, seem all for it. Her only concern is that the bribes should be big enough or, as she put it, “local people must ... see real benefit from the extractions”.

Perhaps someone should remind Mrs Perry that she was elected to represent our interests, and not to collude in the destruction of our countryside, our environment and our health service.

Declan McSweeney, Victoria Road, Devizes.