Lib Dem unitary power grab is massively rejected by West Somerset voters

RESIDENTS of West Somerset and the rest of the county have overwhelmingly rejected the idea of creating a super-size council to run all local government services.
The massive rejection of the Liberal Democrat-inspired plan comes in a postal ballot of everybody in Somerset who is on the electoral register.
Across the county, almost one-half of the entire population voted, answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question ‘do you support the idea of a unitary authority for Somerset?’.
The result was a four-to-one rejection of the idea with 82 per cent of voters saying ‘no’ and just 18 per cent being in favour.
The ballot was organised and paid for by the five district councils in Somerset, which were united in their opposition to Somerset County Council’s plan to abolish them.
West Somerset Council leader, Councillor Keith Ross, said: “The tremendously high turnout is something of a surprise, but the overall result is not.
“This vindicates our decision to hold the vote in the first place. The people of Somerset have spoken loud and clear.
"The county council ran a biased campaign seeking to spin its own plans and spread disinformation about the district councils’ alternative.
“But Somerset residents saw through this, and as for the county council’s claim that nobody was interested in this issue - well, the results speak for themselves.”
Councillor Ross together with chief executives and leaders of the other Somerset districts, were travelling to London today (Tuesday, June 19) for urgent talks with Local Government Minister Phil Woolas.
Sedgemoor District Council leader, Councillor Duncan McGinty, said: “Our message to him will be very simple.
“We are not against unitary authorities as a matter of principle, but we are against them where the proposers have failed to put together any kind of case for change, and where local residents are so clearly opposed.
“We will be urging the Minister to end any remaining uncertainty or speculation by announcing swiftly that the county council’s plans are off-the-table.
“It is now absolutely impossible for the county council to proceed with its plans. They are as dead as a dodo.
“The Government has made it crystal clear that unitary authorities can only proceed if they have broad public support. The plans for a unitary authority in Somerset could hardly be less popular.”
Almost 200,000 people voted in the postal ballot, with 158.754 against the Lib Dem unitary council scheme and 34,851 in favour of it.
In West Somerset, the turnout was 53.9 per cent (15,068) with 79.7 per cent (11,933) of valid votes being against, and 20.3 per cent (3,048) against. There were 87 invalid ballot papers.

• Our photograph shows some of the leaders and chief executives of the five district councils emphasising the postal ballot result at the announcement held in the Castle Hotel, Taunton, this morning (Tuesday, June 19). West Somerset's chief executive, Tim Howes, is second from right. Photo submitted.
  

MP demands debate on threat to close West Somerset sub-Post Offices

A PARLIAMENTARY debate to try to save some of West Somerset’s sub-Post Offices from being closed by the Government is being demanded by the district’s MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger.
Mr Liddell-Grainger is leading cross-Party calls for the debate after failing to obtain a list from the Government of local sub-Post Offices which could be doomed under plans to close 2,500 in the next 18 months.
He said: “I do not know whether the Government does not have a list, because the Post Office is drawing it up, or if it does have one but will not release it.
“Either way, MPs across the political divide are saying it is scandalous – we want to know where the losses will be.
“Any loss of rural Post Offices is absolutely unacceptable, so I have asked for a debate.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said the issue had been debated in the Chamber but not in the Westminster Hall ‘where we have a better chance of bending the Minister’s ear’.
He said: “It is an unfolding disaster that started when the Government refused to allow Post Office to sell its facilities as first choice – they come after banks and building societies.
“Margaret Beckett promised there would be ongoing funding for rural Post Offices until after 2010. That promise been broken.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger is now writing to postmasters and postmistresses in the constituency ‘to keep them up to speed’ with the issue.
Our photograph above is for illustration purposes only and does not imply any direct threat of closure to the sub-Post Office concerned. Photo submitted.

MP presses Minister for better school transport and special needs education

WEST Somerset mp Ian Liddell-Grainger is pressing the Schools Minister, Lord Andrew Adonis, to improve school transport in the district and also the provision of special needs education.
Mr Liddell-Grainger was meeting the Minister for face-to-face talks on the issues on Wednesday, May 9.
It was Mr Liddell-Grainger’s second meeting with the Minister (pictured, top) to discuss education issues in the constituency.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said the meeting was a follow-up to a recent visit to the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency by Lord Adonis.
He said: “We will be looking at the proposals for four brand new secondary schools (in Bridgwater) and the provision for children with special needs.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said he would discuss education provision in the West Somerset area of the constituency ‘where things are less rosy’.
“I am very concerned about special needs provision in West Somerset, where the very tough measures brought in by the county council are failing the children,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.
“I also intend to bring up the subject of transportation.
“I know it is a big area, but the way children are being transported around the district cannot be right.”
M Liddell-Grainger is also pushing for a debate with Communities Minister Ruth Kelly (pictured, below).
He wants a better deal from the Government for the county, as he says the present level of funding is ‘awful’.
“Somerset is still the poor relation, and that is so unfair,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.
“I am asking for a meeting with the Minister - who, by the way, went to school in Somerset, so she knows the county and its needs - and I am pushing for a debate with her in the House of Commons.”
Photos submitted.

Unitary protest MP sells 'Somerset County Council' for charity

WEST Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger (pictured) has sold off ‘Somerset County Council’ on eBay for charity.
A three-figure sum was raised by Mr Liddell-Grainger’s internet auction of the name
The stunt was organised to highlight opposition to the Liberal Democrat-run county council’s bid to become a unitary authority and take over all local government services in Somerset.
There was fierce bidding on eBay from across Britain and even abroad, with the reserve price exceeded in just two hours.
Mr Liddell-Grainger eventually accepted a private offer from a Bridgwater area man whose identity has not been revealed but whose initials were ‘DM’.
He said: “Every single penny will go to a local charity for the benefit of the people of Somerset.
“I do not own the name Somerset County Council, but now that the county council is determined to become a huge new unitary authority, this important piece of heritage could soon become redundant.
“So, I offered it on eBay on the strict condition that all the money raised would go to charity.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said ‘DM’ shared his belief that the idea of scrapping Somerset County Council was ‘absolutely crazy’.
He said: “What will he get for his money? Just a name. But a name with a proud history that the current rulers of the county council seem quite happy to chuck on the scrapheap.”
Photo submitted.

MP setting up dyslexia group in House of Commons

A PARLIAMENTARY dyslexia group is being formed by West Somerset’s MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger (pictured), who is himself dyslexic.
The all-Party House of Commons group will help MPs, parents, and others to work together to address the issue.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said it was high time people with the condition were given a louder voice.
He said: “There are some excellent organisations, such as the British Dyslexia Association, which is active in West Somerset.
“But I and a few other MPs thought it would be useful to set up an official, non-political group in Parliament so that we can speak out.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger is also holding a meeting in London with the local dyslexia association.
He said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to discuss what is or is not being done in the county for people with dyslexia.
“I am very impressed with the feedback I have been given when making inquiries in Government.
“Given that, and the strength of feeling at grass roots level, I feel we are in with an excellent chance of raising the profile of dyslexia.”
Anybody who wants to contact Mr Liddell-Grainger about dyslexia or any other relevant issue can write to him at his constituency office, 16 Northgate, Bridgwater TA6 3EU.
Mr Liddell-Grainger also has a website at www.liddellgrainger.org.uk.
Photo submitted.

Local producers help launch Food Town

PRODUCERS and retailers from Exmoor and the Quantock Hills are taking part in the official launch of a Food Town project in Somerset.
Their produce will be showcased at the event in Wellington on Saturday, December 2, from 10 am to 4 pm, where visitors can enjoy free samples of foods and drinks.
Among those involved is West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger's wife Jill, who makes natural preserves at her home near Williton.

West Somerset food producers' co-operative Source will also be there, as will Tower Farms, of Lydeard St Lawrence, which makes award-winning cheeses.

Shelley Clift will be showing off her home made pies, and Brendon Hill Crafts will have jams and chutneys on display.

Mignon Johnson, of Saffron Kitchen, Lydeard St Lawrence, will be one of a number of chefs giving demonstrations at the event, and will be preparing an Indian breakfast.
The launch will kick-start a five-year initiative to brand Wellington as the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, in the same way as Ludlow is recognised as the ‘Food Town’ of the Midlands.
The catchment area takes in much of Somerset and a large chunk of Devon, an area which boasts no fewer than eight Rick Stein Food Heroes as well as dozens of other award-winning producers.
Visitors to Wellington on December 2 will be able to enjoy free tastings of some of the best foods and drinks produced in the area and can also take the opportunity to stock up for Christmas. Parking in the town’s car parks will also be free on the day.
The free event will be held in a town centre marquee with around 40 stalls for food producers and a seated area for more than 100 people where expert demonstrations and workshops will be held by several local chefs, including sessions on how to make healthy lunchboxes for schoolchildren and interesting ideas for party food.
Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “We hope as many residents as possible from West Somerset will come along on December 2 and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful celebration of some of the finest produce the Westcountry has to offer.
“By supporting the Food Town concept, visitors will be encouraging a healthier retail and service economy for the area, which will mean more local jobs, more tourists and regular visitors, and a thriving local agricultural economy.”
Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, and is supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.
More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to http://www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com/.

MP launches Salvation Army Christmas appeal

LOCAL MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has officially launched a charity appeal to bring Christmas cheer to children in West Somerset.
Mr Liddell-Grainger announced the start of the Salvation Army’s annual Pass the Parcel collection appeal when he attended the launch in the Superdrug store, in The Avenue, Minehead.
Superdrug is partnering the Salvation Army for the 2006 appeal in West Somerset, which is running from November 18 to December 18.
Earlier, some of the WWE Wrestling stars appearing at Butlins, together with the holiday centre’s Redcoats, presented gifts to representatives of the Salvation Army to kick-start the appeal.
People are asked to take toys and gifts for children and young people to Superdrug, from where they will be collected by the Salvation Army for distribution to families in need.
Capt Steven Watson, Salvation Army minister in Watchet, said: “The generosity of people living in West Somerset is second to none and has allowed us to bring a little bit of happiness to many children’s lives over the last seven years.”

• Our photograph shows (left to right) Salvation Army minister Capt Steven Watson, MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, and Superdrug Minehead manager Mark Granger. Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M1117023. Order photo reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk.