Sir, – As the chairman of Thornton le Moor with Thornton le Street Parish Council I would like to clarify the report of the meeting with MP Anne McIntosh at her surgery in Thirsk (D&S, Mar12) to discuss the Thornton Gate retirement village.

Readers might be under the impression that Ms McIntosh called the meeting to brief the Thornton le Moor Action Group as to how the planning process operates – nothing could be further from the truth.

The parish council and the action group are acutely aware that this scheme falls under the auspices of Hambleton District Council. The purpose of the meeting with Ms McIntosh was to present to her the facts that the Thornton Gate proposal contravenes the Hambleton District Local Development Framework Plan, a plan which was developed involving robust consultation and which is regarded as a beacon document throughout the country.

In addition we wished to emphasise to her that the vast majority of her constituents in the village are against the scheme, which if passed, would have a serious impact on the quality of life in the village. There is growing frustration in the village that Ms McIntosh is refusing to listen, just as she did last year when the Thornton Fields proposal was unveiled.

The parish council and the action group are well versed in planning law and we also have the support of the North Yorkshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England who attended the meeting at Thirsk.

Their representative was disappointed that Ms McIntosh could not even commit to supporting the Conservative policy of preserving Grade 2 agricultural land, saying that any policy position might change were they to be elected.

The D&S leading article (Mar 12) made the comment that “her decision to stay aloof from the Dalton and Thornton Gate controversies may be questionable”, Our contention is that this comes to the heart of the matter.

MPs all around the country come alongside their electorate in opposing planning decisions that seek to usurp local framework plans. Indeed in the neighbouring constituency of Richmond, William Hague lends his support to several groups so it is errant nonsense to suggest, as Ms McIntosh does, that MPs cannot become involved in the planning process.

There is no confusion or mounting frustration with the planning authority that decides on housing issues as claimed by Ms McIntosh. The confusion and frustration surrounds her refusal to listen to the concerns of her constituents and her lack of support for her local district council which is having to commit precious time and financial resources considering an application that is clearly at odds with local policy.

Coun IAN WOODS Chairman, Thornton le Moor with Thornton le Street Parish Council.