SIR — I was very disappointed when reading my Free Press to see no sign that West Somerset District Council has taken any heed of recent public reaction to its proposals. A 6,000-plus signature petition and around 500 people turning out on a cold wet Saturday to demonstrate opposition to the council's proposals to centralise all office functions within a single, new building to be erected on Minehead's Market car park seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Almost all of the visitors to the consultation exercise voiced opposition to the proposals, as have countless articulate, well argued letters to the press and speakers at public meetings. County council elections gave the electorate an opportunity to show their feelings and voters in Minehead opted 3 to 1 for candidates opposed to the district council's proposals. Voters in Williton not only voted for an anti- proposal candidate but also gave a huge vote of confidence to district councillor Hugh Davies (Suspended) in another censure on the district council's ruling group. Councillors are changing political hue, resigning responsibilities and/or resigning from the council. The council has been adjudged "weak" and almost lost its Investors in People accreditation. Public statements have been made and withdrawn both corporately and by individual councillors. The council-commissioned reports on car parking and retail needs have been discredited. The situation is a shambles and yet the new deputy leader has stated that the new council offices will be ready for occupation within 16 months. This shows a total contempt for democracy in the light of public reaction in recent weeks. It also shows a lack of realism in that the planning processes have yet to be started. West Somerset District Council knows that the necessary planning application will be rigourously contested by leading experts on the subject and that the process will take a minimum of two years to complete. To proceed with the present proposals would be irresponsible, undemocratic and an inexcusable waste of public money. There is only one course of action the council can honourably take and that is to start afresh. J A S Dixon, Periton Road, Minehead.