5 REASONS TO VOTE CONSERVATIVE ON MAY 5TH 2005 (07/03/05)

Over the weekend, Conservative County Council Candidates launched their campaign across Somerset for the elections on 5 May 2005. On Saturday, in Wedmore, the Conservatives made five simple pledges:

Conservatives will:

  • Reduce the council budget and return the savings to council tax payers.
  • Fund more Police Community Support Officers.
  • Remove unnecessary speed signs, cameras and lights from Somerset’s roads.
  • Support head teachers and their staff in keeping school discipline.
  • Cut waste at County Hall to improve priority services.

Councillor Christopher Wolverson – leader of the Conservative Group on Somerset County Council – said, “We are putting council tax and value for money right at the heart of our campaign. On the day after the election we will reduce the council’s budget for 2005/6 by £1.7m. That’s a promise. Action not words! This will be the start of delivering more cost-effective services to the benefit of all.”

Five facts to remember on 05.05.05 about the Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall:

  • Council tax in Somerset has almost doubled in eight years.
  • Somerset County Council has a backlog of £85m for repairs to schools.
  • Somerset County Council has failed to achieve savings of £5m per annum from Procurement as identified by a Conservative led team.
  • Somerset is in the “five worst performing councils” when it comes to road maintenance
  • Somerset has failed to get its fair share of government or European money

Speaking at the central launch of the Conservative campaign at Wedmore, Neil Parish, Somerset MEP and former County Councillor said, “Another Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall would be a disaster. A Conservative administration would put Somerset back on its feet. We are confident we can win on 5 May but we are not complacent. Conservative candidates will be working day and night to get the vote out because they know that while there are many reasons for voting Conservative there is only one day on which you can vote. On 5 May the people of Somerset will have an opportunity to answer the key question of the county council election… can you afford four more years of the Liberal Democrats and four more years of massive council tax rises? We believe the answer will be a resounding ‘NO’ ”

Ends