Planning laws should be followed

In last week’s editorial you come up with the novel concept that it is acceptable to ignore the letter of the law so long as you respect the spirit of the law. It’s usually presented the other way round. Would courts of law accept the argument that the offence of not abiding by the law could somehow be excused or mitigated by abiding by the spirit of the law? Come off it!

Illogicality apart, there remains the substantive point of disabled access to the proposed cinema site which puts your compassion on a par with your reasoning, which at least shows some consistency. Disabled and elderly people have rights enshrined in law which should not be not be ridden roughshod over by commercial interests.

You ask if I will campaign for better access to the Town Hall? When the opportunity arises, I surely will, but I won’t be deflected from my opposition to the proposed siting of the cinema. Rother District Council will have to observe the law, material planning aspects and policy framework when it considers the matter at its meeting on March 14, something that has been sadly lacking, in my view, so far.

Adam Smith. Cllr., Rye Town Council