Your article about the William Street Scout hut in Oxford (Oxford Mail, May 17) wrongly implies that the whole Marston community' is concerned about the amount of money spent on its refurbishment.

Yet half the people pictured are members of Mick Haines's family and his political agent - hardly a representative sample of Marston residents.

As Marston ward councillors, we are committed to working with community groups across the area to improve facilities for all.

New Marston is lucky to have the 10th Oxford Scouts, together with residents who have worked tirelessly with the Scout leaders to improve the building and provide more activities.

The numbers of youngsters taking part in Scouting have risen hugely since the refurbishment, giving them the chance to gain new skills and experiences.

Letters were sent to all homes in Marston last autumn, inviting people to get involved with running the hall.

It is a shame that Mr Haines turned down this chance.

Instead, he has chosen the easy option of offering nothing positive, but criticising everybody else's hard work.

Your article omits one important point - the Croft Road recreation ground has already received more than £70,000 of developer funding from the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

It now has an excellent, well-used Streetsports site.

We represent the whole of Marston and believe that it is only right that developer funding is shared fairly across the area where it is needed.

That is why we fully support the funding of the Scout hut.

BEVERLEY HAZELL (Councillor) MARY CLARKSON (Councillor) Labour Party Marston ward Oxford City Council