Sir, – Captain Burden's

determination to push through a financially-driven scheme for the East Street Redevelopment by the end of the year appears to have taken a somewhat undemocratic step with the

setting up of two new

"committees" within Waverley council in which Farnham's representation has been

minimalised.

From your report in last week's Herald, a new

presentation panel has been set up which, in his words, "gives an opportunity for developers to inform a wider group of council members of their schemes".

This panel comprises nine members, of whom four (including councillor Burden himself) are from Farnham. One wonders what will be the effect of developers talking to members from places like Chiddingfold, Haslemere and Bramley.

What do councillors from other towns know about Farnham's precarious traffic situation, and of what is needed to preserve the character of the town and to protect some of its existing amenities?

The other significant point about this body is that its

members are all from the Conservative party. Whilst I've no political axe to grind, it's not difficult to see the eventual voting advantages of this move where the executive can

nowadays make ultimate

decisions under the leader/

cabinet system – for example, the BP filling station.

Your report also mentions the setting up of a Scrutineer

committee, but doesn't explain its function. If this is to be charged with close examination of the detail contained in

developers' submissions it must be an important body, so it is surprising to see that, of its six members (three from each of the two main political

parties), only one is a Farnham councillor – namely Dr Rosemary Thomas.

So out of a Waverley council of 57 members, incorporating 18 from the Farnham area, only four from Farnham are to be effectively involved in these new proposals.

There is one more worrying feature in your report. Councillor Burden has stated that meetings with a number of Residents' Associations will be part of the selection process. One would hope that all Farnham area associations will be included in this, as their members use the town centre, and are affected by our chronic traffic problems.

Eric Boyle

Old Compton Lane, Farnham