I HOPE to be a candidate in the council elections next May. I have therefore been attending some council meetings to familiarise myself with current practice.

The meetings have been attended by many members of the public. However, as the meeting progresses they leave. They have come for one particular item, and when it has passed they have no further interest in the meeting.

Does this mean that when the elections arrive there will not be enough volunteers to fill the places because they are not interested in the councils?

Or does this mean that those people who do volunteer to be candidates will not have any experience of council work, even as a member of the public observing what goes on?

Or is there a third scenario? I hope so because the first two do not give me any confidence in the future of our local democracy.

ROBERT STEEL, Salisbury