Letter: Unhappy about council not upholding democratic process

For several months, Shropshire Council, the town council and people of Church Stretton have been examining the proposed development on the hills above the town.

In an AONB, any proposed development must be of extraordinary sensitivity, must be seen to be locally essential and must go through a meticulous democratic process before reaching any conclusion.

None of these three criteria is being observed by Shropshire Council in the proposals for Church Stretton. The whole concept and plans for the development are insensitive and the type of housing and industrial use are not required locally.

Shropshire Council, apparently unhappy with this properly expressed if vociferous rejection, is preparing to go ahead with discussing these proposals at a key decision-making meeting at which the elected representative for Church Stretton cannot be present because Shropshire Council has changed the meeting date.

Church Stretton will not be directly and properly represented. At the most basic level, this is not democracy – let alone the 'localism' promised by the Government.

Democracy must be seen to operate properly. Decisions such as these must not be made by people who will remain loftily unaffected by the consequences.

Shropshire Council stands in danger of damaging not only an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but a vital part of local political democracy.

H Whitehouse

Church Stretton