The issue of whether or not Wiltshire and Dorset fire services should merge seems to be getting ever more politicised. As the Independent member of the Wiltshire authority I have two observations to make.

Firstly, much of the information provided to the fire authority members is clearly marked ‘Confidential’. How then can senior group politicians at County Hall know exactly what is going on? Are their nominees breaking this confidentiality by sharing confidential information? Or are they speaking seeing only part of the picture?

Secondly, I was under the impression that, as a member of the fire authority, I am under an obligation to do what I deem to be best for the fire service and the residents it serves. I am not there to be a pawn in political manoeuvres.

When I see local politicians seemingly being instructed what to do and say by their political masters it makes me ever prouder to be truly an Independent councillor.

Ernie Clark, Wiltshire Councillor for Hilperton Division, Independent Group leader, Wiltshire Council, Stonelea, Hilperton.