Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The IE has made a wise decision - for a change.
The IE recently decided to move seven villages form the Trowbridge Arae Board to Melksham, without asking the parish councils, or the local WC councillors, what they thought. The transfer was made at a meeting that didn't feature the item on the public agenda.

Despite a letter from the IE stating that 'widespread consultation' had taken place, this seemed not to be the case.

The IE has now realized thier blunder and is calling a meeting of all the affected parish councils to try and sort the mess out. Whilst this might not change the decision, or could even see the villages transferring to the Devizes Area Board (!), at least the decision will have been made a) after discussion with the relevant parties and b) in public after proper debate.

A small victory for democracy over the IE, but we shouldn't have had to fight this battle in the first place. The IE needs to remember that democracy involves consultation and listening to what people have to say.