Sir – Congratulations are due to the county council for going back on plans both in relation to the closure of libraries and reforms to arrangements for waste disposal, as reported in last week’s issue.

I may not yet be happy about the outcome on either of these, but I am delighted that the council has changed its mind in response to public concern (“backlash”, as you put it) on both issues. This is what democracy means.

We elect representatives not on the basis of each and every action that they may take before they come up for re-election, but on the basis of what we believe their approach will be.

When, or if, they disappoint us in this, we have the right to make our objections known and they have the duty to listen.

All too often changes to policy are portrayed as ‘U-turns’, putting policymakers on the defensive and making it harder for them to do the right thing, when that might mean changing the policy.

By contrast, I feel that the ability and willingness to change are admirable and show that they recognise their responsibility to be accountable.

We should encourage this and praise them for it, not accuse them of weakness.

As an old friend of mine used to say, and I repeat her words often: ‘If you can’t change your mind, are you sure you’ve still got one?’.

Maurice Herson, Risinghurst