We will see lashings of butter

AT the last Town Forum the running order of the agenda was altered without any reference to the public and item 7 where the public were given their opportunity to speak was shifted to the end of the meeting; there was an attempt to hijack the proceedings for political purposes and force the public to debate and vote on a proposition about Royal Mail; some of the public who had requested to speak and ask questions at the forum found they were not on the list; a member of the council sitting in a prominent position showed little interest or focus when members of the public were expressing their very real concerns and yet it is now the public who are warned in the Observer article of November 26 '˜to watch their behaviour'. Is this an attempt to gag the public and force them to listen?

It was interesting to note that at the recent performance of David Hare’s tense drama at the Stables Theatre Hastings, where they have a succession of very successful plays performed by local groups, there was momentary humour when Hare defines consultation as buttering people up by asking their opinion and then taking no notice of it whatsoever. Was it my imagination, or did the loudest laugh of recognition come from the patrons from Bexhill? As May approaches we will no doubt see lashings of butter, but the council may find the electorate require food with more substance.

Just as Canute could not hold back the power of the sea, so the council will find it cannot control the power of truth.

• PS At the meeting of the Town Forum last night the chairman did clarify that ‘all attendees’ does include councillors, but the way the document is phrased does seem to point a finger at the public rather than the council.

Carole Woodland

Cooden Drive

Bexhill-on-Sea