THE other day I went to an appeal by developers who bought the old Point House Café in Harbour Road, Southbourne, in the expectation of again desecrating our heritage and environment by the erection of yet another complex of multi- storey flats.

The lack of professionalism surrounding the hearing was incredible – hand-written agenda forms that were difficult to read, no microphones so that it was virtually impossible to hear any of the speakers; indeed, if I wanted to show students how a meeting should NOT be convened then a video of this dire event would have met the bill.

When the chairman called a break for people to move their cars to prevent them being booked by traffic wardens, my partner and I left – although we had gone by bus to the Town Hall – as we could no longer suffer the indignity of such an ill-prepared meeting.

Much is being said about the performance of our Town Hall and the high pay of the senior staff. Certainly if I had invited the public who I serve and whose council taxes pay my wages I would have been extremely ashamed of this meeting.

JOHN PRENTICE, Baring Road, Southbourne