Sidmouth Town Council: its effectiveness as an advisor on planning issues.

• Sidmouth Town Council costs local taxpayers over £150,000 each year. Its only important job is to advise on planning applications. It has a valid (albeit minor) role organising publicity for local tourism but this is becoming largely the preserve of the Internet.

• East Devon District Council often vote against planning recommendations from Sidmouth Town Council despite many of the councillors being common to both councils - and to both planning committees.

• East Devon District Council costs millions of pounds each year. It routinely ignores breaches of planning rules - even where enforcement notices have been issued. Attempted misuse of its powers under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act at the behest of a few 'Britain in Bloom' councillors was one factor behind the creation of this website.

• In March 2004 two planning applications relating to the property "Village End" in Sidford were discussed at the Town Council before local people were aware of what was being proposed. Town councillors failed to make proper enquiries that would have unearthed salient facts. The District Councillors for the area who will probably between them decide the outcome of the two applications are all members of the Conservative party.

The following letter was published in the Sidmouth Herald on 2 April 2004. The background is outlined in a letter sent to East Devon District Council.

Local voice on planning

Further to the article in last week's Herald about blue planning notices and the attitude of EDDC's planning department towards Sidmouth Town Council, could I inform readers that the full text of my 'damning' letter of 15 March is on my website for all the world to see - and there it is staying.

I have yet to receive a reply from Kate Little at EDDC - maybe it will be so comprehensive it will be worth the long wait.

Arguably, the only really important job that Town Councillors do is to act as an informed local voice on planning matters. It is laughable to suggest that EDDC is an adequate substitute, especially now there is only one committee serving all of East Devon.

Our Town Council costs us more than £100,000 each year and if its effectiveness is to be so diminished by EDDC's attitudes then we might as well save ourselves some money.

Dr Stephen J Wozniak