DORSET Council deserves all the criticism it is getting regarding a lack of engagement with the public, especially regarding planning matters.

It should not be beyond the wit of the planning committee to arrange for the clerk to prepare a full summary of all the views received from the public before a planning decision meeting.

If people (we, the people who pay these councillors) have taken the time to make our views known about a planning matter, then it is the duty of the councillors to take all these views fully into account. A brief summary eg: ‘five for, 14 against’ a planning proposal cannot convey the true weight of five simple ‘I support’ statements against 14 well-argued and detailed ‘I am against’ statements which each include different points for consideration.

Moreover, the idea that only the first three letters received for each side will be read, completely ignores people who might only find out about a proposal later in the process but who still have valid comments to make.

If, as the council reports ‘...many more people are now sending in written statements...’, then that shows how important the matters under discussion are, and how vital it is that all these views are properly considered, instead of councillors complaining that it makes too much work for them.

The council’s own policy states that ‘all councillors are expected to represent and champion the interests of the community, businesses and residents. By representing the views of local people they can ensure that local community interests are listened to’. But if they ignore what we try to tell them, then how can they ensure we are listened to?

S. J. EVERINGTON
Bridport