CUTTING BACK ON VITAL EXPENDITURE INSTEAD OF HEDGES - Letter (19/09/05)

Dear Sir

It may be difficult to believe but the Liberal Democrats controlling Somerset County Council have decided to reduce spending on grass and hedge cutting not only this year but next year as well. There have been many compaints about neglect of this vital service from all over Somerset - but all apparently in vain. Visibility both for drivers and pedestrians has been adversely affected and there have been many reports of damage to cars by protruding hedges.This financial year there is a cut of £150,000 ; next year, amazingly, it will rise to £200,000.

We all know that after averaging an increase in council tax of nearly eleven per cent a year for the last eight years Somerset County Council need to watch their expenditure. But reducing the budget for grass and hedge cutting is surely a false economy. Apart from the ethics of risking life and limb, have the Liberal Democrats in power in County Hall not thought of the danger of large claims for compensation from victims of their short-sighted policy ? And what impression will tourists coming to Somerset - or passing through, as many of them do - have of our county ? We are already the laughing stock of England because of our incredibly complex speed limits.

By all means try to keep council tax down but do it by reducing expensive bureaucracy, by cutting back on unnecessary meetings and running essential services more efficiently. In fact, follow Conservative Mendip District Council's example of good management and increase the reserves, as we have done.

Yours faithfully

Cllr Ron Forrest

County Councillor, Mendip West

District Councillor, St Cuthbert Out North and West