ALISTAIR Macmillan makes a cowardly attack on our dedicated and hard-working Malvern Town Council staff (Letters, October 31).

He knows that as public servants they have no right of reply, nor can afford legal action.

Not only does he believe that senior officers shouting at staff is perfectly acceptable, but in telling the staff to "start behaving like adults" he is suggesting they should just acknowledge such behaviour is normal everyday practice in offices and put up with it.

This attitude is particularly shocking in view of the fact that Mr Macmillan has served as a town councillor and must be aware of the council's legal duty of care to all their employees, though it should be noted that previous administrations failed to put in place grievance procedures that applied equally to all staff.

He states that: "It is nonsense to suggest that the staff ever had to work in an unhealthy environment and the safety issue has been grossly exaggerated."

However, as no councillor, past or present, has ever worked as an employee in the council offices they can have no first-hand knowledge of working conditions there and so cannot possibly know this to be true.

We may pay their salaries, but public servants are entitled to the same rights, protection and respect as every other worker: it is shameful that their professionalism has been called into question by someone who should know better.

Julian D Roskams

Malvern Town Council