WHAT an appalling example of how not to conduct local democracy was shown by the ruling Tory group at the special council meeting called by the Labour group to debate the sale of County Hall.

More than 100 members of the public turned up either to lobby councillors or hear the debate.

How pleasing it was to see so many local people actually involved in local democracy.

The lobbying outside County Hall was good humoured and about 20 councillors engaged with the demonstrators, though a few did refuse to speak.

But then it all started to go wrong.

Although the special meeting was called to discuss the sale of County Hall the ruling group decided to stick two other large items on the agenda.

It is common practice and courteous to members of the public attending council meetings for a specific item that that item is taken first.

Clr Derek Bateman, leader of the Labour group, asked that this should happen. Councillor Ebo the chairman of CWAC and Lord Mayor of Chester amazingly refused the request.

The packed public gallery stoically put up with his poor ruling, thinking that their item of interest would soon come up.

The first item lasted for well over an hour and a note was passed to the chairman Clr Ebo asking for the County Hall sale item to be brought forward.

Deputy leader of the Labour Group, Clr Pat Merrick again asked for the item to be brought forward.

Three and a half hours later – at 10pm – the council finally got to the matter in hand.

The ruling group had deliberately made long speeches and strung out the meeting showing utter contempt for the members of the public, local electors who wanted to hear the debate.

The leader of the council even belittled the demonstration that had taken place earlier.

It was particularly disappointing that Clr Ebo, who is supposed to be impartial, chose to ignore the public and instead indulge his own political party, the Tory group.

The sale of County Hall is a matter for people across Cheshire West from Winsford and Northwich to Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Unfortunately many members of the public, often elderly had to leave the meeting early, all with a bad taste in their mouth and anger at the way in which they had been treated.

So much for this listening council.

So much for consulting people and so much for encouraging people to take part in democracy.

What arrogance from this 55-strong Tory group that thinks it can steam roller through any issue it wishes and what a pity that the chairman did not consider the needs of the public.

DAVID ROBINSON Chester