Psychotherapists Susanne Levin and Matthew Bell of the social enterprise The Farringdon Practice and MP Emily Thornberry with a maquette of the Sylvia Pankhurst statue

• SYLVIA Pankhurst had nothing to do with Clerkenwell Green. So why is Emily Thornberry supporting the erection of a statue in her name in the MP’s South Islington constituency (Who is Sylvia? Boost for Clerk­enwell Green suffragette statue, March 23)?

Islington residents have never been asked for their views on the inappropriate siting of an – 8ft! – memorial, clearly a done deal even before the “public consultation” on the proposed semi-pedestrianisation of the historic site was launched in October last year.

Months earlier, a £3,000 grant from a tiny council body had already been agreed for the project (£3k spent on silly idea of siting Sylvia Pankhurst statue on Green, December 8).

No wonder the consultation blurb stated that an aim of the proposed scheme for the Green was “To create a suitable setting for the planned statue of Sylvia Pankhurst”. Who made this daft decision, and why? Perhaps Ms Thornberry will explain.

Ms Pankhurst was unquestionably more radical than her sister Christabel and mother Emmeline. Unlike them, she opposed World War I, which is why an appropriate setting for any memorial would be Tavistock Square peace gardens – there are others (Clerkenwell Green the wrong place for Sylvia Pankhurst statue, September 29).

In its handling of this matter, the council is playing residents for ahistorical fools. There’s an election in a few weeks when – in a not-so-delicious irony – our views will be sought, promises made and support requested.

Mean­time, responses to the Clerk­enwell Green survey are “still being analysed”, and the outcome not expected until summer – after the election.

MEG HOWARTH
Ellington Street, N7