The rattling of a ladder being pulled up sounded loud across Charterlands last week. It drowned out the sighs of local folk like my children who desperately want houses.

The growing percentage of baby-boomer incomers clearly influenced the vote. It made Liberal Democrat crowing about why they got the vote depressing reading.

The successful candidate proudly flaunts her recent incomer status, so it’s not hard to see who voted for her. But doesn’t she see the irony of blaming developers who only respond to demand?

Housing demand is stoked by her and her contemporaries retiring here in droves or buying second homes, especially in Bigbury. Sadly it seems that for a big proportion of the Charterland electorate, their only interests are increasing the value of their own houses and keeping the countryside preserved in aspic.

The two other main candidates are decent locals who probably thought they were going to do some good. So it’s sad to see both of them defeated.

It may be democratic, but it sure ain’t Liberal!

P Woodham, Tree Corner, Aveton Gifford