CLLR Emly Heath has excelled herself and even excelled the MBI's usual degree of lunatic logic with her recent comments concerning the Chamber of Commerce's views about the Western Bypass.

Calculating from the number of replies received to the survey, and regardless of the fact that a very clear majority of those polled were in favour, she argues that, because of abstentions, only 15 per cent of those polled actually approved of the plans for a Western Bypass. There is therefore, she suggests, no mandate for the bypass from the Chamber of Commerce consultation process.

So, in the view of Cllr Heath, 15 per cent is not a mandate. I am very pleased to hear it. I would go further. I would argue that 16 per cent is not a mandate for anything either. I am sure that Cllr Heath would not be pedantic about 1 per cent and would agree with me on that point. She is, after all, a reasonable woman.

When, may I therefore enquire, does she intend to resign her seat on the council? Cllr Heath polled only 16 per cent of the votes of those entitled to vote in order to secure that seat. Neither 15 per cent or 16 per cent can be regarded as a mandate for anything as Cllr Heath has been kind enough to point out. As an honourable woman she must now admit that she has no mandate to represent the views of the voters in her ward, much less to represent the views of the district or to support the imposition of idiotic bye-laws upon us lesser mortals. Neither does she have any moral authority to draw her expenses cheques which long suffering ordinary folk have to stump up for.

You have admitted Cllr Heath that you have no mandate. I agree. To quote Oliver Cromwell in his address to the Long Parliament "You have sat here too long... in the name of God, go!"

Ray Hill Lancaster

Bit drastic but take your point! - Ed