CLLR Waterhouse (Letters, September 28) may have given the impression that planning applications are decided by West Devon Borough Council on party political lines. He should know better and in fact that is not the way it is done at all.

The court of appeal ruled not long ago that the system of voting on party lines is capable of amounting to maladministration. So each member of the planning committee, and council when it looks at planning matters, makes up his/her own mind on the merits of those issues that are relevant to the matter.

The Government lays down strict rules which issues are relevant and how they should be seen, but there is always room for councillors to express their personal view.

That is as it should be, that is what they are elected to do, and they know if the electorate doesn't share their opinion they will be thrown out at the next election.

The other thing I think the council is trying hard to do is to open up planning debates to the public. I have welcomed arrangements that allow speakers and objectors to address the committee and council.

Before the council debated the Lidl application the other day, the public was afforded the opportunity to give their own views to councillors, in a special session. I fully support the idea of involving the public in such an open way.

In the light of experience, however, I have no doubt we need to review the procedures to ensure they work to everyone's benefit. Meantime, I judge we are moving in the right direction.

Cllr R Eberlie

Conservative

West Devon Council

residents should be aware of decisions being made by West Devon Borough Council planning committee which could affect all of those who would have concern with planning applications in the future.

In the past with planning applications, objectors with different concerns would have had the opportunity to attend the relevant planning committee meeting and have three minutes each to voice those concerns direct to the members and answer any questions.

A move was made last week by the planning committee to restrict the number of objectors able to speak to one, and for three minutes. This was done by asking the objectors to one planning application to get together and for one speaker to represent them, although each of their concerns were different. They were also reminded that this would only be at the chairman's discretion. This ignores the more open and fairer interpretation of procedures in the past.

If you were to consider a major and controversial planning application and where the maximum debate needs to take place in order to consider the views of all interested parties with differing concerns, it would be impossible for the planning committee to come to a balanced decision if only one person was allowed to speak for three minutes. Remember, developers would have the services of a planning expert to speak on their behalf.

We have a Government who are now in trouble for ignoring the views of others, and not listening to people. If West Devon Borough Council continue with the practice of restricting members of the public speaking at planning meetings, thereby stifling local democracy, they will be viewed in the same manner.

Roy Connelly

19 Manor Road

Saxon Heights

Tavistock