Village needs

SIR, — Apparently the recent local district council elections provoked only a modest turn out (indicating satisfaction or frustration?) but also produced a number of spoiled voting slips, some of which suggested Sir Alan Sugar should have been the prefe

SIR, - Apparently the recent local district council elections provoked only a modest turn out (indicating satisfaction or frustration?) but also produced a number of 'spoiled' voting slips, some of which suggested Sir Alan Sugar should have been the preferred candidate! At least this would not be a political choice but one based on practical success. As the TV series illustrates, it takes varied attributes to make the grade as The Apprentice who is finally selected.

Our would-be councillors had to compete for the voters' approval but relying on derision of opponents can backfire. Personal abuse often deters others from this task if sitting members are aggressive, while ignoring the winner as the results arrive instead of congratulating him says a lot about the losers!

It will now be necessary for our district councillors to work together to represent our village to the best of their ability, despite party differences. There is so much to be done here and excuses don't win any votes, so let's get a grip and prioritise the needs. London Colney Village Concern will help to identify and record issues for attention, whatever the dominant political flavour during the next few years.

A councillor's duty is to ensure value for money in public services, to the benefit of the local community. The complex funding of several tiers of government means that any blame for mistakes can be shuffled around for ages but claiming credit is no problem! However, although the public is not allowed to challenge SADC staff, perhaps councillors can find a way to galvanise some department into urgent action, even if it means seeking the weakest link and watching the consultants' fees as well as the sub-contractors' efforts. With a casual attitude to transport and planning problems so obvious at several levels, it would be great to mimic Sir Alan Sugar's fierce finger as he snarls "You're fired". Which is where we came in, isn't it?

KEN PEAK,

London Colney Village Concern.