I WAS dismayed to hear the full council at Sevenoaks on April 11 reversed the recommendation of the electoral arrangements committee not to recommend a separate parish for Hextable.

As a result of party political manoeuvrings before the meeting of the full council and a pre-prepared detailed motion reversing the recommendation of the arrangements committee, Sevenoaks has now voted to recommend to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister Hextable becomes a separate parish.

I regard this as an affront to the democratic procedure and to the actual data which was laid before the council by the Electoral Reform Society following the ballot.

And I feel a separate parish council will be much less effective in achieving residents' wishes than being part of a larger council, which has provided excellent services for more than 30 years.

The three communities of Hextable, Swanley and Swanley Village will be weaker as a result and overall costs will rise, as there will be a duplication of services.

This campaign for a parish has mainly been aimed at achieving a small saving on council tax.

I would rather continue to pay the amount I am paying for the good service to the wider community provided by Swanley than save a few pounds a month for a greatly reduced quality of service.

Alison Whittaker
Address supplied