MINEHEAD county councillor Ian Galloway is appealing to the Standards Board for England after being gagged on all issues relating to West Somerset District Council's plans to redevelop the so-called key sites in Minehead. Cllr Galloway has been told he must leave all Somerset County Council meetings where any of the key sites issues are discussed because of his opposition to plans for the land. He was elected in May after publicly denouncing the now defunct joint county and district council plans for offices, a conference centre and library on land used for a market and car parking alongside the railway. Cllr Galloway said he was still uncertain whether he was excluded from speaking at district, parish and public meetings as well. He said the county solicitor had only told him he was deemed to have a prejudicial interest in the sites after his successful election based on his opposition to the then key sites proposals. Cllr Galloway said: "I've been told that I can't comment on any of the proposals linked to the key sites, particularly Vulcan Road and the market car park, because I live near the sites and because I was opposed to the plans when I stood for election. "I am also prevented from lobbying anyone about it so that's why I appear to have been rather quiet on the issue. "However, I do think it's grossly unfair as I am the only county councillor in Minehead and I was elected because I did indeed oppose the plans." Cllr Galloway has written to the Standards Board for England in the hope of securing an exemption from the usual rules and regulations which govern councillors' participation in meetings. He said he was hoping the board would give him special permission to represent Minehead when the key sites were being discussed as he was the only county councillor for Minehead, while his geographically closest counterpart, Dunster's Cllr Christine Lawrence, had supported the original key sites plans.