The concerns of Ottery residents about private meetings between developers and councillors have led to months of hostility and a lack of confidence in the town council.

The EDDC monitoring officer’s report into complaints about events at council meetings has been published confidentially but, as many people had made complaints, there are many copies circulating with consequent leaks and rumours.

It was therefore most encouraging last week that Ottery St Mary Town Council voted by a large majority to ask the monitoring officer to make her report publicly available.

I would urge any resident, who is interested in knowing the facts, to support their town council’s request by contacting the officer at EDDC.

Malcolm Macdonald

Ottery St Mary