They did so in the naive belief that Arun’s Conservative group might listen to their concerns. Towards the end of the meeting, opposition councillors put forward a motion intended to represent the interests of Wick residents and to take into account that studies promised by the cabinet had not been carried out. The motion was: 1. All work be stopped at the proposed development site in Wick, until a full impact study is carried out; 2. All green and open spaces and parks that are owned by the authority be surveyed an evaluated for possible council house development location; 3. The council should consider and debate the principle that new council houses to be built by Arun District Council should not be located at sites where there is already a high concentration of social housing. Please have a look at the web cast (reference point: 4 hours, 7 minutes) and view for yourselves the outrageous comment made by Councillor Paul Dendle, who said he might have supported the motion if it had come from a different councillor but ‘I certainly won’t support a motion from a cynical parliamentary candidate’. The debate was very short because the Conservative group proposed that ‘the motion now be put’. It was a procedural manoeuvre used to prevent democratic debate on the subject. In doing so, they quite deliberately prevented opposition members (who wanted to speak) from representing the interests of those residents. So much for democracy. The Conservative group prioritised ‘smashing’ their political opponents ahead of listening to legitimate concerns raised on behalf of the Wick residents. All that the residents in Wick need is a council that will give them a fair hearing, but what chance do those residents have of a fair hearing with such infantile party politicking. Let’s look forward to the district council elections in May, 2015 with hope in our hearts, hope that together we can liberate the district from this kind of tyranny. Tony Dixon Barons Close Westergate • Want to share your views? Send your letters by email: letters@littlehamptongazette.co.uk or post to Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.