RE: The annual meeting in May of Hughenden Parish Council during which residents proposed a vote of no confidence against the council over proposals to build affordable homes in the Green Belt. Last week, the parish council wrote to clarify its position in a letter we headlined ‘This council has not been secretive’. The council cited the ‘aggressive and disruptive behaviour’ of many residents who attended this meeting.

HAVING read the letter from Hughenden Parish Council (HPC) concerning the proposed affordable housing scheme, I am aware that there are inaccuracies in this report compared to the report by the BFP, the verbatim minutes taken by Rosemary Hewitt and of course those of us present at the meeting at North Dean village hall.

Until the flyer advertising the open day for the Rural Affordable Housing no-one had any idea that such plans were in existence.

HPC say the matter had been on the agenda for several years. How many people sit and read the minutes of any parish council meeting?

However, in order to find this mystery agenda it is necessary to go through every month’s minutes to find any mention, albeit brief, of this item which was discussed in its entirety ‘in camera’ and when the public and press had been dismissed.

HPC says the chairman had already closed the meeting before the vote of no confidence. This is not correct.

Quote from BFP reporter: “She then tried to call a halt but a member of the public stood up and said that ‘With regret’ he was putting forward a vote of no confidence... The motion was seconded and approved by a majority verdict. Cll Ewart then said: ‘I am not taking this vote. We have noted the feeling in the room, you can call it a majority verdict if you like but I am now calling this meeting to a close.’” Again minuted by Rosemary Hewitt.

The clerk’s records indicate 78 people attended of whom 26 voted expressing no confidence. Again incorrect. Leaving aside the council members present, the vote was unanimous.

Hughenden Valley Residents’ Association’s exit poll from the open day shows that of the 175 residents who took part in the exit survey 74 per cent were against the proposal. HPC said this was inaccurate. Not so. HVRA were meticulous in their survey.

Neither HPC or HVRA are elected. The difference is that we have the utmost faith in HVRA. There has not been a proper election for parish councillors since 1999. They have all been reinstated or co-opted.

Bullies, yobs, and louts are a few of the words used by a parish councillor about those of us who protest at this proposal. We are a mixture of young professional families and the retired fighting to protect the AONB Green Belt.

Cllr Ewart has indicated that there will be more of these schemes in the parish. This can only open the floodgates from residents in other villages.

The message is “We do not want ANY building on AONB/ GB land.”

Hughenden Parish Council have done themselves a great disservice with their arrogant attitude and are rapidly becoming a laughing stock. Now is the time for them to resign whilst they still have some shred of dignity.

Carole Palmer, Warrendene Road, Hughenden Valley.