Unfortunately Cllr Audrey Steel, Wychavon's Executive Board Member for Planning Policy and Rural Affairs, appears to have shown her ignorance of probity in the planning process.

She is quoted (Evesham Journal, May 18) as saying that local members will be unable to effectively represent their parish councils and residents on planning matters as they will no longer have a vote on the Development Control Committee.

I should not have to point out to Cllr Steel, who is herself a member of the Development Control Committee, that committee members are not there to represent their parish councils and residents on planning matters but to fairly judge arguments for and against applications having regard to planning policy as laid down in the District Local Plan and other local and Government planning policy guidelines.

Ward councillors who no longer have a vote will not be so constrained, and will henceforth be able to speak at committee meetings on behalf of their parish councils and residents should they so wish.

Thanks to Liberal Democrat councillors who voted to remove the vote from non-planning committee members the planning decision process at Wychavon will now be seen to be fairer to both applicants and objectors.

Cllr Margaret Rowley, Leader of the Opposition, Wychavon District Council.