While I'm sure Shirley will do a grand job again, it surely questions the commitment of the other Conservatives who seemed meekly unable to put forward another Conservative candidate although very quick to debunk David Wickerson a very dedicated and very able, but alas Independent councillor.

And that in a nutshell is it. Politics!

Our own personal politics shouldn't come into this very local debate but it does.

I'll be the first to say I want this Labour Government out tomorrow and I could be seen to vote for the Tories, but on a local level this is just utter madness.

With no other Conservative candidate willing to put their head above the parapet an Independent willing and who is, in my opinion and many others, a very able candidate, was not to be.

Sadly however, the political appointment is made. This will go down as a political carve-up. Yes, we all heard the reasons – deputy mayor regretfully unwilling to fill the post, the alternative in the mayor's opinion lacking the experience necessary. But please don't take us all for a ride. This was as blatant a carve-up as you'll ever see in local council and probably not the last either.

I suppose some credit should now go to the Conservatives as they duly elected their choice of deputy David Harman, ensuring the base of influence remains firmly in their court in a year's time. Good strategic political planning and well done on getting something right, but shame on you for airing such blatant political posturing in such a small town.

STEVE HUDSON