I WAS interested to read the letter published in the June 24 copy of your newspaper headed 'Law is an ass,' as I am the 'over zealous' chairman involved.

It is not my intention to write a long rambling series of corrections to the gross errors and half truths in this letter. Rathern to point out, amongst those errors that it is not a "convention" that the Declaration of Acceptance of Offer be signed at the first meeting of the council after an election. The advice given to me, confirms that it is part of Local Government Law that the Declaration be signed before or at the first meeting, in the presence of the clerk.

How would potential councillors view the flouting of the law if something along the lines of: "Oh, he's a good chap, let him sign later" have been said?

My advice to the good doctor is to attend meetings upon which she intends to report. Or failing that, to be more circumspect over the credence she places on information she is given second-hand.

Incidentally, where did she get the 'information' to comment on a meeting which she did not attend? Unless perhaps she is 'ghost writing' for someone who was there but who has not the moral conviction to use their own name but would rather remain anonymous?

Criticising St Briavels anonymously seems to be the 'in thing' this season!

– Dave Slater, chairman, St Briavels Parish Council.