According to your news item on page 9, BFP, June 27 (‘Their decision is irresponsible’), Alan Walters asserted that the decision of Independent councillors Geoff Grover and Graham Davie to resign was ‘irresponsible’.

In fact it was highly responsible, as both had moved away from Beaconsfield and were unable to represent their constituents. Typically, Mr Walters only provides half the story.

Once it became clear Geoff Grover and Graham Davie felt they had to resign, the Independents approached the Conservatives seeking to co-opt two Independents to replace them until the election. This was refused and the Conservatives suggested that either they attended one meeting per six months, the minimum needed, or they take leave of absence. Neither Geoff nor Graham felt this was the right thing to do. The voters selected two Independents to represent them and the Conservatives wished to deny them their choice.

If we find sufficient like-minded electors, then an election will be called and there will be two independent candidates. However, there will only be a cost to the council tax payer if the vacancies are contested as Alan Walters knows full well. (He was unopposed at the last election, i.e. no one voted for him). If the Conservatives put forward candidates they will be triggering a “costly” by-election, not the Independents. We await the Conservative bleat that in putting forward candidates they are acting democratically in allowing voters a choice. The truth is it was their denial of representative democracy that has triggered the possibility of an election, not Independent irresponsibility. — Laurence Smaje, Secretary, Beaconsfield Independents