Coun John Collins of Nottingham City Council has had the temerity to blast Rushcliffe Borough Council for withdrawing its support for a World Cup bid.

How dare he be so arrogant as to interfere with the decisions of a neighbouring council.

If the city wants to host World Cup matches, then so be it, but not necessarily in Rushcliffe.

There is no certainty even with the construction of a massive stadium that the bid would succeed, but, of course, the city council would nevertheless be able to exploit its land holdings within Rushcliffe.

For example, Tollerton Airport, in which they have a financial interest, would be built on and a local amenity lost.

They even talk about pushing through trams to an even greater extent and further despoiling the area of West Bridgford, Edwalton and Gamston.

We have had our differences with Rushcliffe Borough Council, but they have always been consistent in holding that the Ring Road forms a defensible boundary to the green belt. We look forward to the council being just as consistent in the future.

It occurs to us that there will be a major problem in not only getting Forest fans to games, but also those arriving by train from elsewhere.

This Association has challenged developers and Rushcliffe Borough Council in the past over their plans to build on green-belt land at Sharphill, Edwalton.

However, the council and its leader, Neil Clarke, now seem to have taken on board the serious concerns of residents in the West Bridgford, Edwalton and Gamston and let us hope they hold firm and their determination matches ours to protect this pleasant district from being overwhelmed.

We wish both of our local league clubs every success, but this should not result in making this part of the conurbation less attractive.

Just because the City Ground has been in Rushcliffe for a long time and Nottingham Forest wants to move, it does not necessarily follow that it has to relocate in the Rushcliffe green belt.

Coun Collins should just go away and build it in his own backyard.

MALCOLM BAKER AND DENNIS ADAMS Rushcliffe Residents' Association