Paul Folca, of Castle Road, Kingswear, writes: I wish to add my support for the several recent letters complaining of the lack of both transparency and an evident democratic process in South Hams Council's planning procedure. I have observed this at times and written accordingly over decades. As Mr Pudduck says, decisions by the professional planners to refuse an application should not be overruled by elected laymen. Even more disturbing is the inadequate response by Cllr Hicks, in which he refers among other things to several 'personal criticisms'. The letters I have read were factually detailed and contained nothing of a personal (as distinct from an individual) criticism. Such a comment in reply to this profoundly concerning problem is regrettably indicative of the quality of attitude of those criticised, to the disquiet among, I believe, many of the electorate.