Martin Shapcott (Going to town, but which one?' Echo Letters, February 5) suggests that the residents of Chickerell are not represented at West Dorset District Council.

In fact the residents of Chickerell elect three representatives to serve on WDDC. Thus Chickerell is no different in that respect to the other West Dorset Towns of Lyme Regis, Bridport, Sherborne, Beaminster or indeed Dorchester.

Chickerell Town (population 5,430 in 2006) is a long-established community that was mentioned in The Domesday Book (1086).

The present Church dates back to c.1260 and was on the site of an Anglo-Saxon building dating from c.700.

The boundaries of the Parish and Town are historic and well established. The Town includes Buckland Ripers etc as well as part of the Weymouth Conurbation' within its borders. Two of the 4 Chickerell Wards are classed as village' wards The current local government organisation dates back to 1974. A few years ago Dorset had the opportunity to opt for Unitary Authority status as did Bournemouth and Poole.

Thus - for the time being - the 1974 arrangements persist although Central Government is encouraging closer working by District Councils. Watch this space?

There are advantages in living in Chickerell such as lower Council Tax, reduced insurance premiums and enhanced house values from having a "West End" Chickerell address.

It seems unlikely that the Weymouth/West Dorset border would be altered - other than as part of a major Dorset wide local government reorganisation.

Thus decisions affecting the residents of Chickerell, Lyme Regis and Sherborne will continue to be taken in Dorchester by elected representatives of, inter alia, Chickerell, Lyme Regis and Sherborne.

Mr Shapcott was picking up a point made by Gerald Mabb (Terras caught between two councils', Letters, 29 January) that the "crazy boundary" was the cause of the Terras precarious position. Not really the case.

Chickerell Town Council has supported for some time the principle of a supermarket in the vicinity of the Chickerell/Weymouth border in the interests of the residents of both communities.

Such a position would balance the Somerfield and Morrisons stores, help to reduce traffic congestion in Weymouth and reduce car journeys (all global warming considerations) and enable re-development of Weymouth harbourside (employment considerations).

Ian Gardner, West Dorset District Councillor, Butter Street, Moonfleet, Weymouth.