I VERY much hope people will turn out to vote on 2nd May.  It is important we have a say in who runs our town.

Sadly, however, I am beginning to have some sympathy with people who say 'it doesn't make any difference'. 

Bewley Homes' success in getting their getting their development near Newbury approved against the wishes of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (as reported in the Gazette) and now the ruling on the 5G mast at Kempshott seems to show local decision making is irrelevant, as far as the government is concerned. 

Michael Gove repeatedly threatens to take councils' powers away; sometimes it looks as if that has already happened. 

The Local Plan Update has been produced, but will the developers take any notice of it?  It would seem they can get what they want regardless of local planning, so presumably not. 

We vote for local representatives who understand local issues and are entitled to expect they will be making the decisions, not some profit-driven building company.

Gillian Moore 

Broadhurst Grove

Lychpit 

Basingstoke 

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