THE statement by Cllr Mrs C Marsh that against her will she was 'substituted' on West Devon Borough Council's future planning and housing committee because of her known views on the core strategy plan causes considerable concerns.

The statement by Mr D Incoll, chief executive, that the meeting was properly constituted, does little to alleviate those concerns. A decision was made, which will have an enormous impact on Okehampton, by a council committee from which the only councillor representing Okehampton had been removed and replaced by a councillor representing Lydford. Why, if substitution was necessary, was the substitute not one of the other three councillors who represent Okehampton on West Devon Borough Council?

No matter how technically correct this procedure was it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

The silence of the leader of the council, Cllr McInnes, and his 'not available for comment' speaks louder than words.

What is really frustrating is that the Okehampton electorate have no effective redress. The council leader and all the councillors who voted in favour of the core strategy plan, represent wards outside of Okehampton and therefore will not have to answer to Okehampton residents when seeking re-election next May. What a sad reflection on local democracy and West Devon Borough Council.

Charles Letchford

Vicarage Road

Okehampton

YOUR front page article (May 20), re the core strategy and council decision, and correspondence in the same issue raise some important queries which require answers.

Borough councillors are elected by citizens, and, presumably, are appointed to various committees, including future planning and housing, by majority votes of the whole council.

Party groups will indeed have a role to play in supporting candidates for such committee, but once appointed, 'substitution' of one member for another should surely be approved by the whole council who made the original decision.

Mr Incoll (borough council chief executive) disclaims responsibility for the substitution, and puts the onus on a 'political group'.

It would be helpful if Mr James McInnes (leader of the borough council) would comment on the matter.

Dr J Stoneman

Coxwell Green

Exbourne