SIR – On November 4, most of the world’s focus was on the democratic process of the presidential election in the United States of America.

In Malvern, on the same day, the Worcester News thankfully picked up a rather undemocratic story.

Two Malvern Town Council members, Councillor Paul Tuthill, the vice-chairman (deputy mayor) and Councillor Adrian Ward, the leader of MTAG (Malvern Town Action Group), the ruling group, were proposing that the town council should not issue detailed reports to the press in advance of council meetings.

As the paper pointed out, the proposal was against the spirit of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings Act 1960). If the motion had been successful it would have been a huge step backwards for open democracy.

The Malvern Town Action Group may be little known, even within their own community, and the affairs of Malvern Town Council may be of little interest to most busy people in their day-to-day lives.

However, what is most alarming is that Coun Tuthill is a leading local member of the Conservative Party and a senior member of Malvern Hills District Council.

Clearly, he thought it would be acceptable to put forward a motion that, if successful, would have amounted to closed government in Malvern Town Council. Thus depriving the community they serve and represent of relevant information about matters being discussed and decisions being made on their behalf.

Thank you, Worcester News, for seeing the importance of this matter because it probably caused the motion to be withdrawn at the last minute.

CHRISTINE WILD,

Malvern.