SIR,

In just over a week, we have elections for town and county councillors.

It is frequently a problem for most people to decide which candidate to vote for.

Many are inclined towards a party, immaterial of the candidate. It is my belief that the party vote should be for national elections (Assembly, Westminster and Europe), only because your main concern is for where you live – the ward you live in.

Too often, the party has wider concerns which frequently are not in the interest of your ward or area, a classic case is the LDP (Local Development Plan) and Monmouth, the Conservatives were adamant to have the LDP approved, which was not in the best interests of Monmouth, especially certain wards like Drybridge and Overmonnow.

If you were to choose an independent candidate you would ensure that his (or her) main interest would be the concerns of the ward he (or she) is a candidatefor.

The other aspects would be the experience and/ or background of the candidate, and his/ her, ability to 'sell' your needs to the council.

It is most important that every one should use this opportunity to vote, many countries would be thankful for the opportunity of a democratic vote that too many in the UK take for granted.

Tudor Greaves

(Monmouth)