MT support for the superb work being done by C-FAR (Times, July 4) is well known through your letters column and I would like to wish the C-FAR team all the best in their efforts to secure more funding from the Home Office.

I only hope the figures for net money saved to the taxpayer will win through as we know full well that New Labour only really care about 'targets met and efficiencies gained'.

But I can't help but feel they may be onto a loser here. As said in the article, there has been 'condemnation from some sources' of C-FAR — expressed recently in the Times by the 'antis' saying that even if C-FAR causes no problems to it's host community certain members of it will still be against the centre no matter, for fear of their houses' losing value (nice to be able to afford a house in Highampton).

And as we have discovered, New Labour panders to the vocal element of 'upper middle class' voters who care not one jot for anyone but themselves.

If only everyone in this country gave a little more than they took then many of the repeat offenders being educated by C-FAR wouldn't end up there in the first place. Witness the disparity in education funding (Times, July 4), where areas with higher 'upper middle class' populations get more funding per child.

But then why should the better off pay more taxes when their house prices might be affected by a rehabilitation centre next door? These double whammies aren't fair are they? After all, it's not as if education has ever been shown to reduce to crime now is it?!

Or as a born and bred local, 27-year-old professional in full-time work, who has already been completely priced out of the entire house buying market in West Devon (despite being able to afford to rent) do I just not get the point?

Dave Goodwin

Hillfield

South Zeal