There is an 18th century rhyme that goes: You cannot hope to bribe nor twist, Thank God, the British journalist, But seeing what the man will do, Unbribed, there is no occasion to.

Since we are assured that there is no conflict of interest behind Kingston Council’s desire to give developers a free rein to convert a historic market town – in the words of St George’s, the developer – into a dense “urban metropolis”, the ditty could be updated to say: You cannot hope to bribe nor lure, Thank God, a Kingston Councillor, But seeing what the fool will do, Unbribed, there is no occasion to.

Let us hope that our councillors prove the ditty wrong and that, on June 23, they turn down St George’s proposal to develop the old post office site. The public meeting is at the Guildhall, starting at 7.30pm.

ANGUS SCOTT
Kingston