I AM saddened by the recent article on your website entitled “Troubled council at centre of ANOTHER controversy as it asks for children’s names and their mobile numbers”.

As a parishioner who has attended all the meetings of Idmiston Parish Council during their recent troubles, I think James Humphries deserves all the support that we parishioners can offer.

I am sure that no one will be more upset to see how his statement has been misinterpreted by the anonymous parishioner than James himself, but that was not how most of us have read it.

It is true that Idmiston Parish Council has had many problems in the past year but under the excellent chairmanship of Gail Warnes, the IPC had actually achieved a full membership for the first time in years.

Sadly, very soon the enthusiasm of some of the new councillors evaporated and they resigned.

Gail herself was treated so badly, that she too had no option other than to resign, as you reported previously.

James Humphries, despite having little experience of parish councils, decided to remain and stepped up to become our new chairman.

He has worked tirelessly from day one, along with our excellent new parish clerk, to update both our website and parish newsletter, and to ensure the timely release of draft meeting minutes.

There has thus been a real improvement in the openness and transparency of the parish council, the lack of which had been criticised so many times in the past.

It is sad therefore to see that a very genuine attempt by the parish council to try and engage with the younger members of our community in a manner that they would be familiar with, has been seen as inappropriate.

If the parishioner had taken the time to be at the meeting when this was originally discussed, I think they would have viewed it in a very different light and also would have had the opportunity to air their concerns before the matter went to print.

The parish council is striving to shake off its previously tarnished image and if it continues to be treated like this by the very people it is trying to serve, very soon we won’t have a parish council at all.

PAUL BEVIS Gomeldon