It is understandable to accept that the majority of the voting public appear to show no interest in local politics – maybe assuming that their vote makes no difference to them.

Perhaps now is the time for me to “fess up!”

In my youth, I never bothered to vote in local elections because I hadn’t got a clue who to vote for.

I was only really interested in who would help me if I had a problem, not as to which political party they represented and as I didn’t know any of the candidates I declined to exercise my vote.

However, what is interesting to now note is the number of residents in Blackheath who are still coming to seek my help and advice, over twelve months on, apparently oblivious to the fact that I no longer can represent their views or voice their concerns as I am no longer their Ward Councillor.

For those who assured me that they had voted for me please take note: Marked electoral registers which are available to councillors and political parties clearly show not how residents have voted but as to whether they took any interest and have bothered to vote at all.

Fundamental good practice in local government must surely be for an accurate data-base – so why am I still receiving correspondence from SMBC addressed to me as Councillor Mary Docker?

In the past fortnight I have received documentation from not only the WM Fire Authority but also from the Senior Director of SMBC, namely Melanie Dudley – the Director of Improvement and Efficiency.

Words fail me!

Mary Docker Blackheath Business and Community Association Secretary