ALL too often these days, national Government is overriding local democracy; this is something as nation we have got to get to grips with.

It cannot be right where one unelected man, a Government planning inspector, over rides the decisions taken by the elected majority and the will of the local people as has shown to be the case in the in the Westhoughton Bellway Homes fiasco.

Contrary to popular belief, this type of government behaviour has all types of implications:

1 Where democracy rules, it is least likely to be open to abuse.

2 Owing to government intervention, local councils are being forced to use up valuable financial resources to fight against what they believe to be inappropriate building.

3 This type of system does not give local councils the opportunity to state what type of housing needs they require. Take Bolton, a 15,000, social housing waiting list.

4 Who takes responsibility for urban sprawl?

5 Who takes responsibility for bad town and country planning?

6 Who takes responsibility for congestion?

7 Who can be prosecuted under the Air Quality Acts?

8 Who takes responsibility for habitat loss and food producing land?

9 Which political party takes responsibility for the erosion of local democracy?

Peter German

Highfield Road

Farnworth