ALL seems well in the world. At least that is the appearance of our local world. Often the level of contentment with our local life is measured by the number of people who turn up to question our elected members of North Herts District Council and Royston

ALL seems well in the world.

At least that is the appearance of our local world.

Often the level of contentment with our local life is measured by the number of people who turn up to question our elected members of North Herts District Council and Royston Town Council.

It was an occasion when the awkward squad would take the opportunity to raise embarrassing questions.

But not so on Thursday evening.

Once community awards and money from the town council's community chest had been distributed, the question-and-answer session was left with more councillors than members of the public.

This would not have happened in the past.

Then the evening was used to raise those issues and concerns that had been worrying residents over the past 12 months.

If the answers were not satisfactory then the protagonists would return the next year.

There were some who were like terriers chasing a rat and would unleash a raft of questions on our not too unsuspecting councillors.

It was, at times, a lively exchange of views - and, obviously good copy for a newspaper such as The Crow.

But, alas, not this year.

All right there were a number of questions, but a question and answer session lasting less than 15 minutes is not really taking an opportunity to raise an issue.

I mean, not a word about the development at Johnson Matthey that has so captured attention for the past months, or whether car park charges are to increase even more.

Or about new once-every-two-week rubbish collections that look certain to be introduced.

And not a complaint about yet another increase in Council Tax.

And we can't blame our councillors.

They turned out prepared for an evening and the inevitable criticisms.

The public meeting is just that - a public meeting.

If the public, however, is showing such a lack of interest in the running of our community, then all must be right with the world.

Or, as I said at the beginning, in our particular local world.

Maybe, though, it could just be a case of Apathy Rules, OK.