JOHN Campion uses the expressions nimby and luddite in his letter (July 10).

Having read his letter, I see why he had to resort to such mudslinging.

He says horse racing on West Common will bring work and financial gain to Lincoln.

On what facts have you come to your conclusion the use of the common for racing would be a good thing?

What will the finished project be?

What new buildings will be required?

How much of the common will be fenced off and not available to the public?

How many precious trees will be felled?

How many jobs will it create?

How much money will it bring in to the local economy?

I assume you have all these facts at your disposal and have weighed these benefits against the problems the racecourse will bring with it – traffic, parking, road closures, loss of common space and, should the project fail, who will pay to put the common right?

Have you asked yourself just what is required to get a return on a £12 million-plus investment?

More than the numbers the grandstand will hold, I suspect.

The common does not just belong to those who have a vested interest in it, such as horse-owners, dog-walkers and sportsmen and women who use it and certainly not to just those who live in the west end.

It belongs to everyone and it seems to me it is right every rate-payer should be involved in the final decision, if they can overcome their apathy.

What value do you put on the two commons we have in the city.

Have you ever walked on West Common?

Racing on the common is allegedly 400 years old. The population of Lincoln in 1700 was 4,000. In 1800, it was 7,000.

Not many cars or buses around in those days.

If my memory serves me correctly, in 1960 the road was only closed in front of the grandstand on race days, with traffic diverted behind the grandstand.

That was the 20th century. Let's move on to the 21st century, provide jobs and income, but please not at the expense of one of Lincoln's crown jewels, at least not unless the benefits far, far outweigh the losses.

IAN DURRANT Boultham Park Road, Lincoln.

All of us who are campaigning to protect Lincoln's West Common from development understand the need to create jobs and support the local economy (July 23).

We all live and work in Lincoln and we have the best interests of our city at heart.

What cannot be defended, in our opinion, is the appropriation of an ancient, unique, beautiful and extremely well used common – rich in wildlife and important community facilities – for financial gain.

Supporters of racing in Lincoln have yet to make a sustainable case for building a new racecourse.

There are after all three other courses within 30 miles of the city (Southwell, Market Rasen and the Lincolnshire Showground).

But if they do manage to make the case there are plenty of far more suitable sites to choose from.

As Oscar Wilde said, a cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

VICKY ASHBERRY Lincoln.