Sir, – Why is district councillor Jim Fryer so dead set on destroying our heritage in Brompton on Swale (D&S, Apr 9)? Why is he so keen on turning the King William into a private home, a pub that has served the village for centuries?
The reason why such things are allowed to happen is, as he says, down to the planning system in Richmondshire. But that planning system was devised by Coun Fryer, a former chairman of the planning committee, and his Tory and pseudo-Tory cronies. It was they that decided to only scrutinise a “small handful of planning applications” (I quote Mr Fryer), while leaving the bulk of the work to unelected council officers.
Other councils do things differently and their councillors take more responsibility for the planning process.
COUN LESLIE ROWE Parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Richmond Richmond Road, Brompton on Swale.
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