SIR — S Greenway clearly does not understand the most basic principles of how local government in the UK works Your Letters February 8).

Councillors are emphatically not elected to follow the electorate's every wish. Their function is to administer the council business within a complicated legal framework.

Planning applicants are entitled to have their applications decided on in an even-handed manner according to planning law and precedent.

Whilst the opinions of the public are taken into account that does not, and indeed must not, mean that mob rule can prevail as he would wish.

Furthermore, in Mr Greenway's case the final decision has been made by a completely independent inspector rather than the councillors.

As for the excess expenditure incurred, that is entirely the fault of the applicant who has repeatedly refused to accept the inspector's decision as the law requires.

Perhaps the applicant would like to reimburse the council for all the unnecessary costs that he has caused.

Peter Crosland,

Curry Rivel.