Has democracy in Britain already wittered away? I am referring to two planning decisions made by the Adur Council's Planning Committee.

I objected by letter to the aggregate bagging operations by United Marine Aggregates (UMA) in Shoreham Harbour.

The decision was made in favour of UMA as there were no objections, according to the committee.

During the decision-making over the peat factory, my letter - which had no reference to the matter in hand whatsoever - was read out very quietly and in little bits.

Considering the importance of this application, I found the attitude of the planning committee members absolutely appalling.

-Trudy Pettit, Hove