Dear Editor,

I attended the Llangarron Parish Council meeting last week when they discussed the Biddlestone Polytunnel Application. Parish Councils are often criticised for their actions so I would like to extend congratulations for the clear presentation and rational debate of all the associated issues by the Councillors.

The meeting was well attended by the community and those present witnessed the passion and hard work expended by their elected councillors. The task of assessing this complex planning application was split across the council and each individual councillor had clearly spent significant time scrutinising the pros and cons.

Their presentations during closed session were concise and conclusive. Much emphasis was put on the landscape impact and road safety, increased flooding risk and loss of biodiversity.

Their unanimous decision to object to the application was in line with the evidence and the community’s opinion. This was an exemplary performance of local governance in action and it opened the eyes of everyone present to the excellent service that these unpaid volunteers contribute to society.

Let us hope that Herefordshire Council takes into account this clear message from the community when deliberating the planning issues for this application.

Valerie Jacombs

Biddlestone