Opinions on name of town arrogant

I have read the letter from your correspondent George Evans (January 29) and must admit I have rarely read anything so self-opinionated, arrogant and downright misleading.

He refers in his letter to asking locals what they would like the new town to be called and comes up with made-up names like Wellingates and Dawlington. I wonder how long it took him to dream those up. I have lived in this area for 66 years and have never heard anyone mention those names.

I am surprised Mr Evans implies that Anthony Greenwood plucked the name of Thomas Telford from the air to rename the then Dawley New Town, so named because the prime movers for a new town councillors from Dawley Urban District Council. Chief among them was Councillor George Chetwood who had the foresight to see that the only way to prevent the total decline of this already declining area was an influx of new capital and people.

Thomas Telford was from 1787 the surveyor of public works for Shropshire, and was responsible for many roadworks and bridges, including the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and the rebuilding of the Shrewsbury to Holyhead road. It is ironic that on the same page as Mr Evans's letter there was one from a Mr Stephen Burrell, from Newport, asking for Mr Evans to be involved in the project to build a statue to Thomas Telford. Finally, could I point out that Mr Evans does not speak for me, and I suspect many others, when he says we are not proud of Telford.

John Willetts, Telford