Why is it that less than 30 per cent of Worthing's electorate bothered to vote in last week's council elections?

TV shows Pop Idol, Reborn In The USA, Big Brother and Fame Academy all attract huge voting figures yet have little effect on the lives of ordinary people.

Meanwhile, our elected assembly determines the pound in people's pockets, whether their rubbish gets collected and if the streets are cleaned.

But still most people seem to care more about the fortunes of Will and Gareth, Tony Hadley and Michelle Gayle and Nasty Nick and Jade Goody.

Voters have got be enticed back to the ballot box or local elections will become little more than a joke.

But that is easier said than done. What about voting by post, the internet or even the phone?

All are possible options but whichever route is taken a decision needs to be made sooner rather than later.

At present, candidates are to a certain extent wasting their time.

They pounded the streets for four weeks or so only to have, in defeat or victory, an overwhelming thumbs down from the majority of the electorate.

At last week's count I reminded one winning candidate he had got in without the support of more than 80 per cent of the electorate in his ward.

Surely not the clear mandate he was looking for?

It was a poll set against the backdrop of war, which, I was informed by one senior party official, was why Labour only fielded three candidates.

I've also no doubt Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy's stance on the conflict alienated a large number of voters who would have usually voted for his party.

The council is now hung, which I actually think could be a good thing.

I'm quite prepared to pay for a new wastepaper basket for the council chamber on the proviso that at the first full meeting every member puts his or her rosette into it, leaving 36 people working together for the good of the town regardless of their party politics.

Party leaders Sheila Player and Steven Waight have got to sit down and put their differences aside and make a dual commitment to take Worthing forward.

I want to live in a vibrant town regardless of the political colours at the top of the flagpole and invite Sheila and Steve to tell me how they are going to work together to put Worthing back on the map.

Regarding Joy Hurcombe's letter in last week's Sentinel, I would like to point out I have nothing but respect for her as a person and a teacher.

But I still think she is missing the point about the peace protests in Worthing.

Of course she has the right to have her say. It is called democracy, something that was sadly lacking in Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

But what upset me were the protests taking place at a monument which commemorated lives lost in the pursuit of democracy.

It was an insult and nothing will change my view on that.

So, Joy, on this issue we will just have to agree to differ.