The famous Welsh Rugby coach, Carwyn James (famous for his work with the 1971 British Lions) is remembered for once having urged his players to “get your retaliation in first” ! I suspect that many who organise public consultations know what he meant.

They have accepted a difficult brief, arranged to have the arguments set out as fairly as possible and published a consultation schedule that no-one can fault. Meetings have been held, questionnaires returned, submissions received, data analysed – and everything is done by the book.

Yet there are times when such is the controversial nature of the subject – or such is the tenacity of a proposal’s opponents – that nothing can convince people that the process has been fair. For the more difficult options where the consultor had a choice to make, it is a case of:- damned if you do …. and damned if you don’t!