The continued refusal by the Maldon District Conservatives to allow Independent councillors onto working groups and local bodies continues after a recent district planning and licensing meeting last Thursday, where once again, places for Independent members were denied by the Conservative majority.

As the leader of the Independents I have asked for a meeting with the Conservative leader, Cllr Adrian Fluker to discuss the situation.

I hope he and his Conservative associates will realise they are not allowing almost half of the electorate in the district to be properly represented on any working groups and this is most certainly not in the interests or the spirit of democracy.

Mark S Heard

Maldon district councillor

Leader of the Independents