CONSERVATIVES CLEAR ON THE WAY AHEAD - Letter (01/04/05)

I have much sympathy with R Blackmore's cri de coeur about the Liberal Democrats profligacy at Somerset County Council*. It has given us no pleasure to expose - and have to get changed - their intolerable speed management policy, which has cost us council tax payers over £2m. It gave us no pleasure to expose that they did not know how many vehicles they owned on our behalf, that it took them 9 months to find out how many people they employed and that council tax has almost doubled in 8 years. I could go on. Council tax payers deserve better from their elected representatives. This should not all per se make R Blackmore despair of party politics, but only of the current regime.

The Conservative Group are quite clear what needs to be done after 5 May. We have pledged to reduce the budget by £1.7 m in line with our alternative budget. We shall continue to keep the Council Tax down. We shall tackle the £180m backlog of work on our roads. We shall support teachers in teaching and imposing discipline in our schools. We shall fund police community support officers to reduce crime and the perception of crime. We shall cut out waste and address your top priorities. We know we are accountable to the residents of Somerset to provide value for money services.

Yours faithfully,

Christopher Wolverson

Leader of the Conservative Group, Somerset County Council