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).
