I READ Granty's column on our cultural heritage with great amusement.

It seems next year we are to be "borough of culture" in Merseyside and, of course, we have the "Imagine Wirral" initiative with its themes of "discovery, exploration and great outdoors".

There is much to explore in Wirral and young folks should be encouraged to discover our rich cultural heritage which stretches back to the Mesolithic period.

Our countryside is full of unrecognised ancient sites: standing stone groups in Bebington, Arrowe Park, Overchurch, Eastham and Hooton; Roman farms at Storeton and Poulton Lancelyn; Saxon churches; the site of the greatest battle in English history: Brunanburh round Brackenwood, Storeton, Higher Bebington and Poulton Lancelyn, and much more.

What do most of these sites also have in common?

Well, they are part of ‘the great outdoors and are on the council’s Green Belt "release plan" for major housing developments.

It seems the council has short memories.

They have already forgotten their own recent "Heritage Strategy" and policy which stresses: "Stewardship & protection: conserving Wirral's heritage for future generations."

The supposed grand vision is: "To ensure that Wirral's heritage is protected and enhanced and used to meet the educational, recreational and sustainable needs of local people, visitors and potential investors to the borough." 

Clearly, covering heritage sensitive sites on the Green Belt with thousands of unnecessary luxury houses (not affordable homes) is right in line with protecting and enhancing our heritage.

We are in the hands of cultural vandals whose only talent is duplicity.

Professor D P Gregg, Spital