Therein lies the crux of the problem Ros, and I feel with the other views expressed here, including the anonymous ones! People feel disenfranchised from the decision making process, and so often when it seems a clear preference has been stated, we get something quite different as an end product! This might explain why town council meetings are left to councillors. The public have a 15 min slot and are still not part of the decision process. Listened to but seldom acted on. Having said that however, on important issues like the LDP, as long as the council get the information out there, and then genuinely try and move forward with the majorities views, it is incumbent on us to make the effort to participate. That will be no small task. How to disseminate and engage all in one go. But it needs to be done. Leaflets to every household, emails, facebook pesters, (info have over 500 members now), posters and anything else you can come up with to draw people in. Then gather opinion, decide, and feedback. All before the deadline! You will earn your salt if manage that councillor!

William Read. I was not complaining or accusing when I mentioned residents not turning up for meetings. It is a FACT that most do not even for very important issues unless it specifically involves them . Just a point made. Unfortunately we cannot convey our point so well on forums as we do when face to face and sometimes comments are misunderstood. We want to do what is best for Bromyard, not for our own personal gain.

William Read,yes of course I agree with you,but do we have a
top down consultation upon what the TC puts forward,or do we
consult first with residents before we come to a TC plan to put
forward to Herefordshire Council.We do have a public hall for
consultation purposes.

Councillor Roger Page.

I can assure William Read that the Town Council will wish to
consult with and engage as many residents as possible in
the consultation process concerning the emerging Local
Development Plan,however we will have to work within set
Government targets for housing over the next 20 years,
whether we like it or not.
Consultation without public participation is no consultation
at all.It is not for just 18 Councillors to decide the future of
Bromyard.

Councillor Roger Page,
Chairman -TC Planning Committee

I can quite understand Tony Stanton's sentiment that he would like to maintain his view, I can also see the points of some of your more anonymous contributors like Youngster and Mr Happy, they are all equally valid. Surely the way forward would be to look at ways the housing could be developed so that it is sympathetic to the needs of as many users as possible, ie views where possible are maintained, but also houses are built! I don't find the comments made by some, like councillor Ray Whittaker at all helpful when he accuses us of not turning up for town council meetings. That is precisely what they are Town COUNCIL meetings, they wanted the job of representing us, so do it without complaint. I also fell comments like " nothing like being negative" to Ros Bissell from a councillor do nothing to enhance his case. Similarily the comment by Bromyard Drifter, in reply, who has in the past contributed pithily, but not here! In conclusion, the way forward with most going for it is for the town via its councillors to engage its townfolk by whatever means effective in the consultn process.