Sir,

I was most interested to see the report on page 9 of the Tenby Observer dated October 21, headed 'Council performance continues to improve', but on reading it through was somewhat disappointed, 'though not altogether surprised, to find that an area of the council currently of particular concern to me at the moment gained no such appraisal, whereby my hopes were dashed!

It is the planning department of Pembrokeshire County Council which I had hoped may figure in the report as showing some signs of improvement, due to my recent ongoing experience of trying to get a little help from that particular area of the organisation, merely to be left wondering whether, in fact, such a department does actually exist?

I do need to have an 'on site' discussion with a planning officer relative to certain developments adjacent to my private living accommodation here in Broadmoor, to which end I wrote a letter to the planning officer in June last. A couple of weeks or so passed by entirely without any response, but eventually I did receive a 'phone call from a lady member of the department and the tone of the conversation suggested that she was of the opinion that no site visit was necessary and that the matter could be readily resolved by telephone.

I outlined the nature of the main problem to her and she said that they would look into it and advise me shortly, since when I have heard absolutely nothing constructive resulting from my letter or that telephone call. July, August, September and October have all rolled by without any note of acknowledgement or advice - in other words, if you ignore it long enough, it will go away.

However, I did receive a call from a lady officer of Health and Safety. I am not clear on precisely how she became involved, certainly not by me, but she did come to see me and agreed that I appeared to have legitimate grounds for requesting a planning site visit and she undertook to see such action being undertaken.

Subsequently, a man 'phoned from planning, suggesting that they were not sure what I was concerned about and were unable to locate my letter. I advised him as necessary and was given an assurance that action would 'now' be taken and it would seem that a decision was then taken to do nothing, which is precisely what has happened to date.

In view of this apparent act of total disregard for the concern of a council tax and income tax payer, I called upon the services of a local councillor who, on visiting me and becoming aware of my concern, agreed that the grounds upon which I had requested a site visit were perfectly reasonable. I gave him a copy of my June letter to the planning officer and he undertook to visit the department within a day or two with a view to getting something moving.

Two weeks (to the day) later - on September 5 - a further call came from the planning office to say that the councillor had just called on them and the matter was being looked into. September and October have since rolled by with no further word from the council and it is reasonable to assume they are now totally engaged in the organisation of their Christmas and New Year parties. I must remember to send them a card. And maybe one to the Ombudsman as well?

A few evenings ago my local councillor called to enquire as to progress, but I fear he got something of a dusty response. And apart from the clicking of my type machine, all has now gone totally silent.

Going back to the beginning - 'Council performance continues to improve' - I am somewhat curious as to how the need for such action has become manifest, as indeed it has. Bearing in mind that countless local authorities have been in existence throughout thousands of years, with such a vast history of ongoing knowledge and expertise what on earth have they been doing (or perhaps not doing) to need improving, as indeed some obviously do?

I regard this matter not only as one of serious inadequacy, but also as a calculated insult.

Frederic G. Morton,

Retired (30 years ago) local government principal officer,

Broadmoor,

Kilgetty.