IT was with more than passing interest that I read the letters from John Raine and John Hart (Your Letters, September 24) concerning the process of decision-making at Malvern Hills District Council's area development committee meetings.

While acknowledging the difficulties in deciding planning applications, these are compounded, in many cases, by an over-zealous interpretation of planning guidelines.

During the three years of my experience on what was then the southern area planning committee, presentations/recommendations by the planning officers were clearly applying the same criteria in respect of rural/semi-rural applications as that appertaining to urban applications. This, in my view, made for some indefensible decisions, which were subsequently retracted on appeal, adding to the cost of the planning process.

Finally, a detail which on first consideration may seem not very important, namely the recommendation from the planning officers in respect of an application; this information is clearly indicated in the documents given to members of the committee prior to any decision.

I find it difficult to accept that, with the best will in the world, this could not influence members of a committee.

DAVID McKERRACHER, Croft Bank, West Malvern.