Concerning Terry Chivers' letter (July 30) about the use of email, my comments were directed at him not residents. He is asking council members to return to the Stone Age by not receiving emails at his council address.

At rate payers' expense, Cllr Chivers has the benefit of the following; a free computer, free internet access, free use of council computer facilities, free computing advice, free paper, printing, and post. Like a champagne socialist he wallows in this surfeit of e-government assistance and yet demands that we reply by post, why?

He also has a personal political email address but objects to my replies on this, why? I accept his right as a Councillor to ask questions and receive replies, however, I object to this activity being used constantly for political tub thumping, has he considered the costs?

At the last council meeting a palpable groan could be heard from members at the prospect of 15 questions from Cllr Chivers.

Conducting his parish business this way costs rate payers around £600. Many questions are repetitive, querying missed bin collections caused by badly parked cars in narrow streets in Bradford on Avon. I ask your readers if Cllr Chivers' activity in laying blame on council staff for problems beyond their control is sensible democracy in action or just the frustration of a Liberal Democrat having lost control of the council.

R Wiltshire

Portfolio Holder for the Environment,

West Wiltshire District Council