If I had any doubt of Labour’s ineptitude regarding the Bitterne Walk-In Centre, then the reply from Cllr Shields removed any last doubt.

My observation that Labour, had they so wanted to, could have stopped the closure of BWIC in any of three ways (because they run the council, the HOSP, and the Health & Well Being Board) seems to have completely unhinged him, sending him off on a rant suggesting I have attacked the integrity of that board.

I was attacking his lack of action, not the board’s lack of action. And surprise, surprise (as predicted) at the HOSP meeting on Thursday evening the plans to close the BWIC were shelved until after a full public consultation.

Cllr Shields and his Labour colleagues could and should have effected this action six weeks ago – preventing much of the worry that many people had about the possible closure – and any of the three actions that they control would have worked.

They should come clean with the public because it looks like they have just been utterly incompetent.

Peter Baillie, councillor for Bitterne Park.