THERE was, and remains, only one reason that I became involved in local politics. To try to make a difference.

After the statement that I made at council ("No cuts to vulnerable", Daily Echo January 13), I went home and told myself that I had, genuinely, achieved that aim.

I did it because I have been through seeing my wife's step-father suffer and eventually pass-away from Alzheimer's after two years, and what a strain that put on her and her mother.

I did it because I have a friend who I heard from last week after some time, who had part of his wife's family, a sister her husband and young daughter all taken away after contracting Aids following a blood transfusion in Canada that was infected.

I did it because of the work that so many voluntary organisations do in our town, without whose help and dedication we couldn't begin to replace, even with all of the money in the world.

I am hugely grateful for the emails that I have received from some of the people who run those organisations, and I have nothing but contempt for those who think I did what I did for any other reasons - especially when those so-called commentators do not even have the courage to identify themselves.

Yours faithfully,

CLLR PETER CHARON, leader, Bournemouth Borough Council