Madeleine Green, Thorley:

I have viewed online the Isle of Wight Council cabinet meeting held on April 18 at which my ward councillor, Peter Spink (Yarmouth and Freshwater North) asked a very pertinent and reasonable question: "would the best and most versatile agricultural land be taken out of the allocations [for development in the proposed Island Planning Strategy]?"

As no clear answer was given, Cllr Spink again asked for a response. 

The leader, Cllr Phil Jordan, then totally lost his temper and repeatedly tried to prevent Cllr Spink from speaking.

Extraordinarily he then stood up and shouted angrily and petulantly for Cllr Spink to leave the meeting and for him to be removed.  

Is this quality of debate, and the disturbing behaviour of Cllr Jordan, acceptable to members of the council and its executive? 

It is certainly not acceptable to those the councillors are supposed to represent.  

Peter Spink is an excellent councillor for this large area of the West Wight. 

He is hard working, meticulous in his research and, most importantly, is a champion for maintaining the beauty of our Island as a whole. 

That he should be so forcibly and aggressively 'shut up' in this unpleasant manner is inexcusable.

That a representative - from any part of the Island - should be spoken to in this manner when asking a question of genuine importance to the whole of the Island, is most concerning.