I am somewhat puzzled. Despite a petition of 700 signatures protesting against the plans to convert The Sandrock Inn in Ditchling into flats and build houses in the garden and car-park at the rear, the planning committee of Lewes District Council "reluctantly" approved those plans (January 9).

If the committee was so reluctant, why did it go ahead with approval?

Is there some unwritten law that dictates councillors must approve all such plans unless they can think of a damned good reason not to?

And isn't 700 signatures of protest a good enough reason? I would have thought so.

One would like to see a list of all those in power who voted in favour of the decision and an investigation into whether any or all of them have a pecuniary interest in the matter. The results could be interesting.

I know The Sandrock quite well. My sister and brother-in-law live in Hassocks and were frequent visitors.

I have enjoyed many a pre-lunch pint there and the pub was always packed to the doors with locals and visitors. So, for the developer's agents to say the pub "hasn't made money for years" I find hard to believe.

The Sandrock is a genuine village pub, neither themed nor tarted up. It used to have a genuine, friendly atmosphere, did great food, offered a warm welcome to all and was quite happy for us to bring in the dogs.

One is tempted to believe the rumours, voiced locally, that the current owners have, since taking over, deliberately installed managers who were both young and inexperienced and blocked all the efforts they made to try to bring the pub back to its former popularity in an effort to support their efforts for its closure and redevelopment.

-Stephen Warden, Oakdene Crescent, Mile Oak