LETTER: EU vote should not be '˜private'

At the Seaford Town Council meeting last week, I asked the following question: 'I think we would all agree that councillors as public servants should be transparent on issues which affect the people who elected them. Now we have had a high profile debate in Seaford on the EU referendum question and following such extensive coverage I would ask each councillor to declare whether they will vote '˜Remain' or '˜Leave' so that the people who vote for them can do so in knowledge rather than ignorance. Please could each councillor be asked this question?'

I’m sure your readers will be interested in the response which was that each councillor’s decision is a private matter and not for public consumption. Since the majority of decisions taken by any town council will be affected by whether or not we remain or leave the EU, shouldn’t councillors who serve our interests declare which way they will vote? For example, housing planning permissions, infrastructure (schools, doctors/hospitals, energy requirements etc), council tax and so on all will be influenced by the outcome of the referendum.

Surely, therefore, those that vote for councillors should know the answer to this question before they next decide which councillor they would like to serve the community they live in on their behalf. Several councils already have taken this step and I wonder whether all councils should do so.

Eric Woodward

Alfriston Road, Seaford

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