The Scottish turnout of 85 per cent raises questions on our own local election levels of around 55 per cent.

But what if all people in West Dorset were actually encouraged to participate more easily in details of local issues?

What if WDDC executive councillors debated here in public?

What if major planning applications on Bridport were held here?

What if WDDC’s newsletter ‘Community Link’ to all homes – hadn’t currently been axed? Sadly WDDC is effectively operated by one political party on just 45 per cent of all residents’ votes cast, yet they have 67 per cent of the seats.

Certainly the executive seemed to agree in 2011 to build new council offices on top of Dorchester’s central Charles Street South car park – blotting out 226 permanent public car-parking space – against the local will of the 93 per cent majority of those voting in Dorchester’s 2010 town poll.

Now we learn WDDC is looking for some greater coming together with North Dorset’s council. Did anyone ask us, the residents, if we want this? Are we sliding into a further perpetuation of a middle tier of local government?

Or should we be awaiting news of constitutional changes apparently now planned for England?

One possible outcome could be to put the question to all residents, which could give more integral local government: “Should West Dorset be absorbed into Dorset County Council?”

How can the public express their will, one way or another, on this important structural question?

JOHN GRANTHAM Burton Bradstock