I AM writing about our democracy and our right to speak.

I had the opportunity to watch in confusion the planning committee in action at Redditch Town Hall on April 15.

The meeting was to discuss the application for 30 houses off Rough Hill Drive/Grangers Lane.

Committee chairman Councillor Clive Cheetham limited the objectors to half an hour and then reduced it further to 21 minutes.

This left three people unable to speak for their three minutes, even though they had booked to talk, and a further three people who were told there would not be enough time.

What authority does the chairman have to stop people's right to voice their objections?

We asked 11 councillors to come and look at the site since last June and every one of them thought the scheme ill conceived.

However, their comments meant they could not vote. Did they know this?

The change of use of this land took place in 1996. The council voted on a piece of land without visiting it. Again, they have made a decision from a point of ignorance and rely on experts.

The experts said the building of these 30 homes would be a good thing and, guess what, the plans were passed without all the risk and safety assessments being done.

The risk assessment for the location of the new path has not been done. It will run up Rough Hill Drive close to a road that is as wide as a three-lane motorway.

The only protection for children will be chain-link fencing as they walk to and from school. No crash barrier will protect them.

The risk assessment for the added volume of traffic from these 30 dwellings on the McDonalds island at the bottom of Rough Hill Drive and the Crabbs Cross island at the top has not been done. Why not?

The risk assessment on the potential for slippage of this land has not been done.

I know that with modern building techniques they think it unlikely but look at Banners Lane.

They had slippage on a less demanding site. It also took four years to build 24 houses and some were only bungalows.

The council has granted permission even after many members said they could not endorse these plans in their present state. Why then vote 'Yes'?

What has happened to democracy and common sense?

DENETTE FRANCE

Towbury Close

Oakenshaw South