East Sussex County Council has been criticised for its "ivory tower arrogance" over proposals for the incinerator in Newhaven and for having "simply gone through the motions without any real sense of democracy or accountability to the people it serves".

Furthermore, there have been calls for the planning application to be referred to John Prescott since "the county council cannot be allowed to be judge and jury on its own proposals. That is why we want the Government, which is independent, to review this matter."

Now take another look at the quotes, printed in the current Lib Dem newsletter, Focus, but view them in terms of the ongoing saga of the community stadium at Falmer.

The first quote is attributed to Lewes District Council leader Ann De Vecchi, whose council decided, behind closed doors, and with no public consultation, to appeal against Prescott's decision to agree planning permission for the stadium.

I'm not so sure the people of Lewes saw any of her sacred "sense of democracy" in the decision to launch a costly High Court action nor, come to that, has her council shown any accountability to the people it serves, particularly in light of the 5,000-signature petition it was handed in December and the fact that all councillors were forbidden to discuss the issue with the public.

The other quote, about the Government being independent, came from Lewes MP Norman Baker, a man who quite reasonably wants Prescott to take a longer look at the incinerator plans.

Ironically, though, Baker wasn't too happy that Prescott found favour for the Falmer stadium planning application in October, having been through exactly the same independent process he requests the incinerator application goes through.

It's a shame because the Lib Dems' handling of the stadium issue has been more damaging than they can imagine. They had built up years of bonhomie and goodwill from the people of Lewes but have now seen much of it wiped out.

It's no wonder the party is having difficulties nationally they're not setting a good example on our own doorstep.

-James Boyes, Lewes