The first, from Cllr Waters, contended that it was not the councillors who were to blame for the shortcomings of Forest Heath Council but its officers on account of it being an officer-led council.

I do not recall being invited to vote for the officers, who are supposed to advise the councillors, but for the councillors themselves on the understanding it is they who would make the decisions having considered and either accepted or rejected that advice. Otherwise, what is the point of holding council elections?

The second, from Judith McCarty, refers, in the context of the recent fatal accident in Old Station Road, to the number of cars parked on that and other streets.

She called for some proper long-term parking so that we may once more have a town in which people may wish to shop and work.

Given the current economic climate, which is likely to make it less profitable for developers to build houses, might it be worth considering changing the use of one of the sites earmarked for development from house building to making a decent long-stay car park, which would be of great benefit to the town?

John Round-Turner
Old Station Road
Newmarket