BRIDESTOWE parish councillors were obviously surprised at the large number of parishioners who were at the recent meeting, following their announcement that a representative from West Devon Borough Council would attend. He announced he would speak on the proposed development at Town Farm. In his talk he also touched on other issues. It quickly became obvious how far out of touch these people are. The chairman stated how difficult it was to get people to come on to the parish council. Is he surprised that people are not interested in any parish, district, county of national groups? When people are not being listened to, why bother to vote or speak? A parishioner sitting behind me put his question to the speaker on the subject he spoke on but was ignored, in spite of asking for an answer three or four times. The question of the yew trees and the north hedge in the parish churchyard was brought before parish council by one of the oldest inhabitants of the parish, otherwise the problem would never have been addressed. Councils, whether they be local or county, have demonstrated that whilst they make a song and dance about asking opinions, when they get them they ignore them unless they agree with their own. We have been given dismal excuses for raising council taxes for years now, namely they must rise or services will be cut. Well they do rise substantially, and services are still being cut, yet the wage bill for representatives is spiralling out of control. George Heathman Tanyard Court, Bridestowe