I was rather concerned when I opened the letters page in the Gazette and Herald (January 22) to see a letter from the leader of the Wiltshire Council Liberal Democrat Group, accusing the Conservatives of ill-thought-through policies, together with a letter from the same party’s prospective candidate for the North Wiltshire seat. The latter contained the usual pop against Mr James Gray, the current local MP.

However, I was obviously unnecessarily concerned that you were showing a degree of bias towards the Liberal Democrats, because at the side of the letters page, you also print the Gazette’s pledge: “The Gazette and Herald is independent of political parties, private interest and government. Our policy is to provide readers with a fair, accurate and balanced news and information service.”

I expect your readership will have the opportunity to view the accuracy of your balanced news and information service in next week’s edition.

Coun Ian Ferries, Royal Wootton Bassett Deputy Mayor, Sorrel Close, Royal Wootton Bassett.

* We publish letters from supporters, representatives, and critics, of all parties and I think if you look at our pages over any period of time you will see there is a balance. Gary Lawrence, editor