SIR – Regarding the allegations made by Minehead Town Council against John Malin and Dudley Seale, as elected councillors for the council's north and south wards who were not present at the meeting, we strongly disassociate ourselves from the resolution passed, which was published in the Free Press on February 26, until we have seen all the documentation involved.

Members of the public should know that no notice of this item appeared on the pre-circulated agenda, and we have learned it was introduced unexpectedly by the mayor at the meeting, and no supporting documentation to prove the very serious charges was distributed.

We have requested this to be sent to us, but to date (March 9) nothing has been forthcoming, and we ourselves have been forced to use the Freedom of Information Act.

At no time have we been asked for our views, despite the fact that the resolution purports to come from all councillors (at least five were absent from the meeting), and the first we knew about the allegations was from the press.

We are very concerned that the mayor's resolution uses such emotive words as "bullying", "spiteful" and "malicious vendetta" which, to those members of the public who have spoken to us, more aptly describes the actions of Minehead Town Council.

We are also concerned that the council appears to have breached Article 8 of the Human Rights Act that applies to public bodies and guarantees everyone "the right to respect for his private and family life".

The actions of Minehead Town Council make us ashamed to be members.

We call on the mayor to resolve this issue by apologising to John Malin and Dudley Seale and to start some form of mediation by investigating the contentious issues honestly and openly before the matter descends into expensive court proceedings.

Cllr Terry Venner (North ward),

Clle Tony Berry (South Ward),

Minehead Town Council.