Congratulations to Wiltshire Councillors Hawker, and Clark, for voting against changing the times of the Western Area Planning meetings.

Wiltshire Council says few parish councils have responded to the consultation, the reason being is they haven’t given them time to do so.

In my own ward of Melksham Without North, already Melksham Without have complained at lack of time. Atworth Parish Council only meets once every two months and Broughton Gifford meets monthly, so if you just miss a meeting they have little chance to respond. And what about asking the general public what they think, after all, it’s they who use the services of the council.

We keep hearing how much the council wants to encourage young people to stand for council. So why are we moving meetings to the daytime, putting yet another good reason why a young working person with a family wouldn’t be able to stand.

Yet another own goal from Wiltshire Council as they become even more distant and removed from the electors of Wiltshire.

Councillor Terry Chivers, Independent Melksham Without North, Eden Grove, Whitley.