FOR all the trumpeted ‘localism’, much talked about in council circles, a curious thing happened at June Poole Council.

I always interpreted ‘localism’ to mean bringing more decisions to be made by local people. Especially so when, like the Navitus Bay wind park, it will have a massive impact on local high energy-using businesses and household budgets for years to come.

However, apart from the three Parkstone ward councillors, there was a complete boycott on the suggestion that Poole should take the lead with other coastal authorities affected and try to organise a local referendum on Navitus, allowing everyone a say.

Not only did the two established political parties turn it down flat, but the new Poole People group also showed little enthusiasm for giving local people a say, either. I was even pressured to withdraw my motion by a Bournemouth Conservative councillor and a Poole Lib Dem councillor.

It seems councillors will need a lot of persuasion if localism is to become more than just a word.

I would just like to thank those residents who took the trouble to contact their ward councillors in support of my motion.

CLLR TONY WOODCOCK, Civic Centre, Poole