Having attended the planning meeting at Seaton Town Hall on March 16 re the proposed development on Harepath Road for 149 dwellings, 70 per cent of which are nominated for affordable housing, I should like to voice my opinion as I was stifled from doing so at the actual meeting.

Having attended the planning meeting at Seaton Town Hall on March 16 re the proposed development on Harepath Road for 149 dwellings, 70 per cent of which are nominated for affordable housing, I should like to voice my opinion as I was stifled from doing so at the actual meeting.Whilst there are reasons for objection, none of the councillors were prepared to hear arguments for the application.I am a Seaton resident who is desperate to buy, but cannot afford to - like many people. Coupled with the fact that local authorities have failed miserably to provide affordable housing for many years, you would think that they would at least consider it.As was stated by one attendee, she "doesn't want drug addicts and ex-prisoners" living in the town. I fall into neither category and, frankly, find her comments shameful!It is all well and good protecting the rights of birds etc, but what about human beings? We need somewhere to live, too!My initial reaction was one of feeling that the entire meeting had been planned and rehearsed and, once the objections had been raised, the chairman would allow no further questions.Democracy? Old boys club more like! JJames CockramHillymead, Seaton