RE Rushington roundabout and the ridiculous decision by the Planning Inspectorate to go against the will of the local people that I represent and allow the Rushington roundabout KFC/Costa development to go ahead on appeal.

I spoke to object with Hounsdown School’s business manager at the New Forest District Council planning meeting, so can understand why the head teacher is so annoyed and disappointed with this decision.

But it comes from the incompetence of the two Totton South local councillors, David Harrison and Michael Southgate.

I spoke to point out a whole range of concerns, such as road safety, pollution and public health.

Other than Council officers, I and the school’s business manager were the only people to speak who were not New Forest District councillors.

What followed was the most chaotic planning meeting I have ever seen, and I’ve been to a lot of them!

The chair of the meeting, Tory councillor Alison Hoare, should be ashamed of what transpired.

It was clear that officers were not prepared for the recommendation of refusal that came forward after a protracted, and seemingly haphazard, debate by councillors.

And when a refusal was eventually proposed by a local Totton South councillor, Tory Michael Southgate, he did not even have the reasons prepared!

So the councillors and officers flailed around trying to find reasons proposed by councillors – when two members of the public had already given them reasons.

Instead, councillors and officers should have been prepared. The Totton South councillors should have primed the officers with the reasons for refusal before the planning meeting.

But they didn’t, and the chaos and lack of preparation by them has directly led to the appeal being allowed and permission granted.

Which very sadly means that Councillors Harrison and Southgate have failed their electorate.

That’s another reason why New Forest District Council needs to have Labour councillors.

We ask for local people’s support to achieve that in 2015.

ANDREW POPE, New Forest East Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate.