Your reporting of the recent Dartmouth Town Council meeting was very accurate in what was said, but did not comment on the validity of the opinions expressed about the One Council vote.

One councillor noted that of three per cent of Dartmouth residents who had expressed an opinion, 90 per cent were opposed to a merger, and suggested that this was an adequate sample.

This might have been true if the resident population had been sampled randomly, but clearly they were self-selected – another “own goal” by South Hams.

Other councillors lambasted the only district and county councillor to turn up for taking the Tory whip and voting for the merger.

While not agreeing with his position, it should be pointed out that councillors, whether at town, district or county level are representatives and not delegates.

They must, however misguidedly, vote, according to their opinion, in the best interests of the residents of their constituency.

If they get it wrong, vote them out at the next election.

Cllr Richard Cooke

Market Street, Dartmouth