Dear Editor,

I see now that the local election season is on the horizon. Preceded by the usual suspect leaflets stuffed through the letter box, which one is likely to read, and feel like voting on, only if the rhetoric changed.

‘Demands’ are wonderfully stirring, but pretty useless with nothing to back them up, especially when mainly moaning about money not spent, or increases, at the same time as making claims of what more will be done, often little to do with town matters, presumably using the magic money tree.

Equally, ‘working hard’ is an appreciated given with those prepared to commit to service of this nature, but essentially meaningless as nigh on impossible to measure in effect. There already have been facile attempts to cherry pick with comparisons on this basis, with luck not to be repeated. Working smart, or successfully, would be preferable, if equally tricky to quantify.

And of course, there is anger. Lots and lots of anger. So much anger. Potent if it is well directed. Hollow noise otherwise. And a poor route to solutions.

Sadly I see we are losing the little talent there is bit by bit as the commitments needed exclude most who might contribute positively.

Endless meetings held in working hours are unattractive or tricky to work around for those running businesses. Hence we end up with those with time on their hands, and the reasons are seldom encouraging. The passionate but poorly qualified. Single issue flag wavers. Activists. Professional paper pushers.

NOTA (signing None Of The Above) is a tempting option when faced with such choices, but sadly ‘politics of the least bad’ (when almost nothing at this level makes sense to hang under a rosette) means tough calls ahead to avoid those who make the most noise dominating over the sincere and likely to make a difference.

If not too late I’d like to advocate hustings where candidates can make their cases, take part in debate and be interrogated on their skills, their commitment, their policies, how they are going to pursue them and where the money is coming from. Local issues that they have the power to influence the community sensibly and be held accountable for, though these days it seems that any promise can be made by anyone at any level and then ignored to get to wield even limited power.

Peter Martin

Ross-on-Wye