As you know, the leader of the council has been under attack following his felling of over 100 healthy trees in the centre of Plymouth. Under cover of darkness, the machines came out and executed Mr Bingley's orders, despite a huge protest voiced by members of the public and Mr Chris Packham and other celebrities.

The stealth, or underhandedness applies to our situation also. The executive members of the council have deliberately not advertised the new white lines fines, deliberately not put up enough or any signage, deliberately threatened  folk with bringing in the police. Deliberately picked up thousands of pounds in fines just from taking pictures of our pets crossing white lines! So easy when dog owners do not form part of an organization that can mount a protest!

I was actually writing a letter of complaint about Mr Bingley when I read of his 'stepping down'. So now there are others who need to be brought into the spotlight and be shown to be in the group of authoritarian councillors who have no interest in protecting us, and every interest in wanting rid of us.

I urge you to look at the council website and under the section on councillors, you will find a 'complain about your councillor' area. There are seven principles they must adhere to and these councillors who support or do not try to stop the bullying and fines for dogs crossing white lines are breaching them all:

Appendix A – The Seven Principles of Public Life

The principles are:

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

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It is not difficult to see where they have driven a coach and horses through the lot of these lofty ideals.

Please lodge an official complaint against he or she who is the councillor for wherever you are being harassed. The more we shout, the more chance we have of change.