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Published:
May 24, 2006
Burnham-On-Sea
MP hits out at plans for regional government
Burnham-On-Sea
MP David Heathcoat-Amory and a group of seven senior Conservatives
are calling on the government to scrap plans to introduce regional
government in Somerset.
The
Burnham MP has signed a public letter (pictured) stating his "concern"
at attempts to reorganise local authorities in Somerset and replace
them with a system of regional government.
 In
the letter, which was released on Wednesday (May 24th) and signed
by seven top Somerset Tories, Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: "The
South West Regional Assembly is steadily being given more powers.
Areas of policy, such as housing, planning, health, police and
fire services, are gradually being transferred to regional control."
"In
parallel with this, the government wants to abolish or merge existing
councils into new 'unitary authorities' which would take over
the functions of County and District councils. But the government
has made no statement to parliament nor any public announcement
about this strategy."
"Instead,
these plans are proceeding on the basis of leaked ministerial
memos and a series of meetings, often with local officials, without
the public or press being invited."
"We
believe that tearing up the map of Somerset in this way would
incur massive costs and would take power away from local voters.
We want to improve the delivery of services by better working
between established and familiar councils, not by setting up remote
regional bodies and new unitary councils."
"We
call on the government to come clean about its intentions for
Somerset. For our part we will defend local democracy against
the dictates of Central Government."
The
letter has been co-signed by Ian Liddell-Grainger (MP for Bridgwater),
Christopher Wolverson (Conservative Group Leader at Somerset CC),
Ken Maddock (Conservative Group Leader at Mendip DC) and Duncan
McKinty (Conservative Group Leader at Sedgemoor DC).
The
other signatures include John Williams (Conservative Group Leader
at Taunton Deane BC), Christine Lawrence (Conservative Group Leader
at West Somerset Council) and Mike Lewis (Conservative Group Leader
at South Somerset DC).
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