Editor

I could not help but notice your report about Cllr Ceredig Davies having to apply for a dispensation to be free to speak up for residents and businesses regarding the Covid-19 ‘safe zones’.

Why should a councillor have to apply for a dispensation to speak freely? Who are the members of the council’s ethics and standards committee who decide who can speak freely?

A dispensation is special permission to do something that is not normally allowed. Since when has speaking freely on behalf of your constituents not normally been allowed? Cllr Davies has every right to raise the concerns of his electorate, in fact he has a duty to do so. Cllr Davies appears to be the only councillor prepared to put his head above the parapet.

The council has form of this, for example never saying why there was a massive overspend with the building of the bandstand. They were hiding behind very spurious reasons for not answering questions. What right does a council have for keeping secret the spending of ratepayers’ money?

I am sure Cllr Davies has increased his standing with his constituents (and, to put the record straight he is not of the same political party as I am). I sincerely hope that when I want to discuss local issues with him, he does not have to apply for a dispensation!

Chris Samuel, William Street, Aberystwyth

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