HOW can public money be used against the wishes of the same members of the public who are legally obliged to contribute to the Oxford City and Oxford County Council purse?

Is it right to hold power – remove public buildings and land without public consent?

One example is Temple Cowley Pools.

There is huge support for this facility to remain in this expanding community.

I question the morality and legality of both city and county council ignoring the rising groundswell of the electorate’s concerns and human rights over community issues arising from planning and development.

Councillors are elected representatives, but many fail to acknowledge or act on reasonable objections raised.

To the outsider it seems councillors relish the opportunity to time-waste – to try to dissolve genuine concerns.

They provide incorrect or misleading information and, therefore, waste valuable public money.

Their role is to provide full information for everyone – not hide it so that individuals need to play detective to uncover local development plans by website access (often too late to affect changes seriously affecting neighbourhoods).

The council remains imperious to ensure success – therefore, securing and proceeding with unreasonable, but already agreed developments.

The public has no ownership of local amenities, as the councils’ long-term forward-planning is not revealed.

Greed is an overwhelming factor with no empathy to care and benefit communities. It’s said money is the root of evil.

Surely, this regime must reform to respect and retain our community and lifestyle, or is it true the lunatics have taken over the asylum?

ELAINE BENNETT, Marston Road, Marston, Oxford