WHETHER you were for or against the decision to remove the Upper Shoreham Road pop-up cycle lane, surely we can all agree that it was wrong for the decision to be taken by just one councillor. And he didn’t even represent Shoreham.

That’s simply not democracy.

The problem is that West Sussex County Council is run by a cabinet clique of just nine people. The other 61 councillors don’t get a vote at the top table where the big decisions are made.

And in the case of the cycle lane, just one councillor had the final say.

When you exclude different viewpoints, you get too many things wrong.

West Sussex County Council is where Ofsted condemned the children’s services for “widespread and serious weaknesses”. Where an independent inspector said the fire and rescue service suffered a “litany of problems”. Where the council bungled a road maintenance contract – and picked up a £4 million penalty.

And where Tory councillors paid off the former chief executive with a £265,000 golden handshake – and tried to keep it secret.

And, now, where they spent £781,000 of government money – our money – on pop-up cycle lanes which they installed in the summer and decided in the winter to take out.

West Sussex County Council used to operate a committee system where all councillors got a fair chance to have their say.

It led to better decisions. It meant councillors with relevant experience were not shut out of important decisions – like the future of the cycle lane on the Upper Shoreham Road.

Peter Bartram

Former leader, Adur District Council

The Meadway

Shoreham