Jonathan Hawkins, ­chairman, Kingswear Parish Council, writes:

Recently my vice-chair and I have been accused of being ­dictators and bullies in your paper, Chronicle, October 9.

This is totally unacceptable and cannot be further from the truth.

I of all the Kingswear parish councillors am the only truly elected councillor, with my re-election in May to South Hams Council topping the poll of three councillors.

A community group came to the council some 18 months ago with a proposal for a small play area in Jubilee Park. After many months and consultation with residents and the school, the then council supported the project eight for and one against.

During this time two packed village hall meetings were held – at one there was only one person against.

Martin Rich from the Devon Community Council came to a recent third public meeting and said the consultation had been good.

There are more than 145 ­children in the parish of Kingswear and a thriving school. In my view and those of the majority of residents, we should provide them with an improved play area. Jubilee Park was given to Kingswear for all, not just as a back garden for a few.

When we questioned the Waterhead Creek petition last year, the chair could not provide us with the 53 names or on what the question was.

At a recent meeting, ­membership forms were placed on chairs, only to be removed by Paul Folca, as he said only invited people could be members.

My previous parish clerk was hounded out of position by a few, and I will not be.

I did not resign this summer, a fact that was recently clarified by the South Hams Council monitoring officer.

We now have an unelected parish council, the members of which never having stood for election – they have never stood on their views and ­principles.

They should all resign and stand down and let Kingswear decide whether they are worthy of being councillors for our parish.