Sir: The fact that Chelsea Conservative Association 'overwhelmingly supports' Patrick
Jenkin's Bill to abolish the GLC does not have the significance that Councillor Nickols pretends (Letters, 2 June). It is merely another case of that alarming servility among the Conservative rank and file which has become de rigueur since Mrs Thatcher became party leader. The present Bill will do the utmost harm to many Chelsea residents because, in an ignoble and little-publicised clause, it designates a new trunk road (under the control of the Department of Transport, and not Kensington Town Hall) which will run from here in Holland Park through Earls Court to Cheyne Walk. There will be no public inquiry over this trunk road, and therefore no possibility of compensation for local residents. The council has
preferred not to make real protests over this arbitrary and unjust proceeding, as they are keen not to criticise publicly the Jenkin
Personally I abominate the class of people who have been elected or appointed to the GLC in recent years; but if the Government are really sincere about purging the metropolitan boroughs of extremism and jobbery, their solution should be to introduce proportional representation at local government elections. The character of Mr Jenkin's Bill, its rotten little clauses establishing de facto an Inner London Ring Road, and the supine response of the Conservative boroughs affected, show that on many issues ratepayers will be worse off.
R.P.T. Davenport-Hines
51 Elsham Road, London W14
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