I SUSPECT our apathy stems from our ideas being overrun time and again by planning procedures beyond our control.

So often you read of local communities trying to fight major developments near their homes.

You only have to look around at all the new housing estates sprawling across what was once open fields to realise how little say we actually have in what goes up and where it goes.

So in this case the council tells us we have a say, and why should we believe them?

The way planning procedures are going, neither we, the council tax payers, nor they, the councillors or planning officers have any real influence on how our towns are developed.

M Turner, Inkerman Street, Ashton