Yet again, West Oxfordshire District Council has missed the chance of building 40 new affordable homes in Long Hanborough by not making compulsory purchase orders for the land required.

Instead, it talks to and begs landowners to sell the land. Well, have I got news for the council?

One of Gordon Brown's pledges that when he becomes Prime Minister, he will dramatically increase the building of affordable new homes.

The district council will get a well-deserved kick up the bottom for its procrastination.

Mr Brown will do the council's job by making compulsory land purchases to allow affordable new homes to be built. The council should realise there is more to be done than imposing fortnightly refuse collections.

GLYN LIMMER, Roosevelt Road, Long Hanborough