Part of the letter stated and I quote "What disgusted me the most was the councillor representing the residents did not even vote against the plans. We want people who are on our side not the planners."

As the district councillor for Abbey North representing my ward members, I have invested a great deal of time in helping residents with this matter. I always have and always will do what I believe to be in their best interests. What the correspondent is obviously unaware of is that only one of those councillors appointed to the planning committee are permitted to record a vote at these meetings. I am not a member of that committee and whilst, as the local councillor, am permitted to contribute to the debate, I am not permitted in any vote. Had I been allowed to do so I can assure the correspondent that I would have done so in support of the residents whom I had been asked to represent. My actions had nothing to do with support for the planners as the letter inaccurately states.

I hope this helps clarify the matter.

Councillor Chris Long
Via emai