The article on the dinner ladies in West Sussex who are still waiting for their redundancy payments (Argus, September 8) reminded me they would not be in this sorry situation but for the Conservative West Sussex County Council's decision to axe children's school dinners.

I have always felt this decision did our children a great disservice. Apart from the fact sandwiches are not a fair substitute for a hot meal, for many children this was the only substantial meal of the day.

The decision was based on the county's need to save £500,000.

Even worse is the way the company which employed the dinner ladies, Castleview, has been affected. Castleview is right to take its case to the European Court of Justice.

The county council has washed its hands of yet another consequence of its actions and in doing so has potentially put the company in a very difficult position. Castleview, the dinner ladies and the children are all victims of this poorly thought-out action. Why do we keep installed county councillors who behave in this way?

-Julia King, Adur District Councillor - Labour