I REFER to Tony Collingswood’s letter (22/8) about Councillor Busk’s development aspirations in and around Stockbridge and his role as borough councillor for the inhabitants of Stockbridge.

Councillor Busk sits on the Southern Area Test Valley Planning Committee. Of course he does not sit or vote when one of his development applications is to be considered by that Committee. As a lawyer I am aware that in the courts justice has not only to be done, but must also be seen to be done.

I think the same principle should apply to the Southern Area Test Valley P l a n n i n g Committee.

It is difficult to see how the p u b l i c can be reassured that other members of that committee feel entirely free to vote on Councillor Busk’s various applications, when he sits with them on other applications.

Given that Councillor Busk has made many applications over the past few years, and is still associated with one major development application in the pipeline, would it not ensure that justice was being seen to be done if he either remained a councillor, but no longer made, or was associated with, major development applications in and around Stockbridge, or he resigned as a councillor?

Jean Ritchie QC Kings Head House Cllr Daniel Busk Stockbridge