ON Wednesday evening I attended one of Durham County Council’s Local Plan consultation events in Durham Town Hall.

It was a complete farce. The officers present were only interested in defending the plan proposals and I was repeatedly told to put my comments in writing (which I will be) and to talk to the inspector at the enquiry, whereas the purpose of consultation is to find out what the public think and at least consider amending proposals, surely?

Frankly I didn’t expect much better but if the council listened to the public it could have a good Local Plan by now.

Philip Timmins, Durham City