On July 20, Winterslow Parish Council voted to support a development of approximately 46 dwellings on Middleton Road.

This decision did not reflect the results from the neighbourhood plan questionnaire, where 80 per cent would not support such a development.

An exceptional parish council meeting was held on Tuesday, August 11 at Winterslow village hall, which I attended along with about 100 people from the village.

The proposal set before the council at this meeting was essentially to back the neighbourhood plan by reversing the previous decisions and therefore support the following: 1. The potential allocations at three sites (about 15 units) as proposed by the neighbourhood plan 2. Withdraw support for the potential site allocation at Middleton Road (46 dwellings) A further questionnaire was distributed prior to the meeting and the results from this are very clear, with 68 per cent supporting the proposal for the three site allocations and only 7.5 per cent supporting the 46 homes on Middleton Road.

However, in spite of this information, the vote was tied at 5-5. This does not demonstrate a parish council acting on behalf of the village and gives me grave concerns over how our village is being managed.

The chairman exercised a casting vote in favour and therefore the proposal was thankfully approved. Much to the relief I felt of the majority of people in the room.

I would urge those councillors who voted against the neighbourhood plan to review their position on the council and to ask themselves if they are really acting to serve the needs and wishes of the people in the village.

PAULA GIBSON Winterslow