THERE have been letters in your paper criticising the proceedings of North Cornwall District Council's planning committee and the lack of representation for those affected.

The democratic deficit will be even greater when the district council ceases to exist at the end of March. Planning decisions will still be taken but by councillors and officials who may have no knowledge at all of the place and local issues. Only six North Cornwall councillors will be selected for this panel.

It may be just as bad when the unitary authority is elected in the Autumn, as the ­guidance indicates that the majority of planning ­decisions will be made by officials. Opponents of ­applications, whose lives may be most severely affected by the plans, will not be able to challenge or appeal against a decision.

Many of us in Boyton are concerned that the major application, submitted eight months ago, for a pub, post office, shop and hall on ­agricultural land, has not yet been decided. Apparen­tly NCDC is still waiting for a business plan from the ­applicant. A pall hangs over the village as this issue has divided opinion — there were 63 letters of support and 147 against. Our community has been fractured.

It is now clear that there will be no post office. It is doubtful that a shop could survive without that subsidy. Many of our nearest pubs are up for sale. Six pubs a day are closing throughout the country and rural pubs are faring worst. A village with only 70 houses, off the beaten track, cannot offer a viable business proposition, especially in these credit stricken days.

This planning application needs to be refused and as soon as possible. It must not be allowed to drag on, to be decided by an unrepresentative and unaccountable ­quango.

Boyton Residents

Action Group.