I note our county council is planning to engage in a consultation process before deciding its next steps towards increasing parking charges in Devizes and elsewhere (Gazette, September12).

It will be interesting to hear the outcome of these consultations.

The consultation process over the relocation of Devizes Hospital produced a petition of almost 1,300, plus a variety of other respondents voting against relocation.

Despite this, it was concluded that the consultation process had produced strong informed support for the relocated hospital.

At the national level, the Sunday Times reports (Sepember 15) that "ministers under pressure from the American agrochemical lobby, mount a huge consultation excercise to persuade the public of the virtues of GM foods."

This seems to me to reveal what has happened to the principle of consultation.

It is no longer seeking information, or taking interests into consideration, as is the meaning of the word, but has more to do with a PR excercise, persuading the public that this or that decision is good for them, and there really is no point in resisting.

Will this be the result of the proposed consultation on parking charges, I wonder?

Or will the strong views of the majority who are against the changes be genuinely reflected in the consultation outcome?

J G Ody

Chairman

The Trust for Devizes