I WRITE regarding the story in the Hereford Times covering the resignation of Mark Hubbard (Councillor resigns over planning row, March 19).
When I was chairman of Herefordshire Council in 2000 I inherited extensive ‘chairman’s guidelines’, which made it clear that absolute probity must prevail. Where there is doubt, and a casting vote is called for, the casting vote must restore the status quo.
I am surprised that a sitting councillor does not know how to make a legitimate planning application. I am even more surprised that a chairman should justify an inappropriate judgement by saying that no-one had complained hitherto.
Local politics once had a bad reputation for its old boys’ network. I was proud to be part of the procession through Queenswood, along with a Hereford bull, when we celebrated both our new independence and a new start. It would be devastating if those ideals of transparency and democracy were to be smothered.
LANCE MARSHALL Whitecross Road, Hereford
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