IT needed the voice of reason of former Ilminster Rotary Club president Tony Walker to restore calm at the Shrubbery Hotel last week.

People were fired up at the start of the meeting with a series of hostile questions to the likes of former Ilminster Mayor Cllr Carol Goodall and South Somerset District Council leader Cllr Ric Pallister. Mr Walker, who was among the 150 people in the audience, rose to his feet and suggested it would be far more productive if people acted sensibly during the meeting after Cllr Pallister had warned that he would leave if people were abusive.