I keep telling myself local politics is not, or at least should not be, like Westminster in miniature. But in the face of the recent antics of Malvern Hills District Council, I find my faith in local politics is straining to breaking point.

On Monday, councillors voted along party lines for the second time in the increasingly sordid saga of public toilets. Almost from the outset it was obvious a motion to rescind the council's decision to close toilets in Malvern, Tenbury and Upton would fail.

Why? Because Liberal Demo-crats would not only use their controlling block vote, they would also come prepared to spring a new, carefully worked out alternative proposal at the meeting.

Yet there was no indication beforehand that a new proposal would be presented. Nor, in my view, was there adequate time for all councillors to give this 'out of the blue' proposal proper thought and debate. This was decision-making by the back door - a fairly low level of political sophistication. And why? To save face? Hardly, there were a thousand better ways of doing that. To present a real alternative then. Well, perhaps. But why not then allow opposition members in on the act? Why present a new proposal like a rabbit out of a hat? Alas, here was a straightforward case of local politicians, perhaps influenced by the wily ways of Westminster, using the process of local democracy in a wholly unacceptable way.

So the ruling party has a result. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the toilets remain closed. The point has been rammed home that the district council does not consider this basic facility is its responsibility. But at what price? This crude means to an end not only reflects badly on genuine local democracy but it may well have done terminal damage to the credibility and reputation of many of our local representatives.

As a genuinely independent member of Malvern Town Council, I can understand some might consider this letter just a severe case of sour grapes. I assure you it is not. It is simply that sometimes any politician has to stand up and be counted. Last Monday, there was a signal failure of people who should know better to do so.

John Wilcox, Hospital Bank, Malvern.