Dr Richard Rawlins, of Beacon Road, Kingswear, writes:

I share the concern of many residents that the issue of planning consent for a solar park at Hemborough Post outside Dartmouth was not decided by South Hams Council's development management committee but delegated to council officers. That decision was taken 'by the ward member and chairman of the development management committee', Chronicle March 21.

The full committee did not consider the proposals.

The Green Party's Cllr Robert Vint has conceded 'there is not enough time to discuss all applications at a public meeting... we can't bring every one as we would not be able to cope'.

Quite an admission – but where contentious proposals are made, either time should be found for the development committee to deliberate in public and for its members voting pattern to be noted, or district councillors who cannot stand the heat of the kitchen should give way to those who can.

The remedy will be in the hands of South Hams residents in May 2015.