Conservative-run Mid Bedfordshire District Council decided to disregard 3,100 out of 3,500 replies to a consultation on plans to build permanent gypsy sites in their area. Those who said their village was too small to cope with the additional population, or who cited fear of crime were among the thousands who had a letter back from Gary Alderson, Director of Environmental and Planning Services at Mid-Bedfordshire District Council telling them: "Your correspondence contains statements which may reasonably be considered to be of a racist nature."
Did the Council leader, Cllr Tricia Turner, approve this extraordinary letter? Or the decision to disregard the views of thousands of her residents? I have emailed her to ask for her comments.
