PLEASED though I am that the district council voted for my motion that we need a specific planning policy for wind turbines at its meeting last Thursday, I am disappointed that the Labour group came to the meeting having pre-determined their view beforehand and not prepared to listen to the debate with open minds.

Apparently, by including a restriction on the proximity of wind turbines to residential properties, the council would be inhibiting the work of the planning policy group and could be guilty of interfering with the due process, according to Labour.

It was made clear in the meeting that distance would be only one of several criteria needed to clarify the council's position with regards wind turbines and that all detail would be worked out by the planning policy group. Full council would not in any way be predetermining the result of this work, which would go to public consultation anyway.

This begs the question – what is the correct role of councillors?

Whilst it is understandable that political groups should expect their members to vote collectively on manifesto and key issues, beyond this they should surely be in a position to listen to the debate and vote according to their conscience.

If political groups are going to view every attempt to improve the functioning of the council as a political issue, to be voted on en masse, how can individual councillors truly represent their whole electorate – not just party voters?

– Marion Winship, district councillor, Alvington, Aylburton and West Lydney.