SOUTHAMPTON Labour councillors David Furnell and Dave Shields are, as seems to be increasingly the case, ignorant of the facts regarding the planning application of the sulphur plant.

All councillors have access to all planning applications and, because they act for all of Southampton, should study all applications.

That is the view of the current (Labour) chairman of the planning panel. The problem with the plant’s application is that officers did not flag it up to members as an application with potential to be difficult.

There were no objections, so it was passed by officers. The fact of there being no objections at the time should have made officers realise that perhaps the knowledge of this impending application was not as widespread as it should have been.

PETER BAILLIE, councillor for Bitterne Park Ward, Southampton City Council.