GILES Chichester's letter (April 2) is a timely reminder to those of us who had almost forgotten that our local democracy is under threat from yet another round of government interference. I agree with almost everything he wrote, but please allow me to add a plea to your readers to participate, yet again, in the process.

People who responded to the Boundary Committee's consultation last autumn must be wondering why they have had another letter, inviting them to respond again to proposals that, at first blush, appear indistinguishable from the Committee's previously proposed miscegenation.

The reason lies in a mind-numbingly complicated judgement of the Appeal Court from a Judicial Review in the High Court. Buried in their Lordships' 114 paragraphs http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2009/239.html">www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2009/239.html (for those who want the full soup and fish) is the following gem:

Although the Act is concerned only with proposals for unitary local government, we are satisfied from the terms of the Secretary of State's guidance that her policy recognises that a change from two tier to single tier local government is not regarded as likely or desirable for every area or authority. We do not think, as did the judge, that there is a presumption in favour of unitary local government. Rather the Act provides the means of changing the structure of local government; and, if it is to be used to effect change, the change has to be to unitary local government.

Ergo, the Boundary Committee was wrong to exclude consideration of the status quo (ie the existing two-tier system) from its previous consultation and must consult again. That is why we have had further letters from the committee, even though their proposal appears to have changed imperceptibly, if at all.

It is therefore imperative that people who responded previously do so again, especially if their response favoured the status quo. Any who previously felt impelled to make a choice of unitary options only or mainly because the Boundary Committee had predisposed itself not to consider the status quo should also respond again, stating this and changing their favoured option to the existing two-tier system.

Roger W Mathew

Down Road

Tavistock