Budget Hits Vulnerable Residents - Coombes

11.04.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Apr 2008

Bathwick Liberal Democrat Nicholas Coombes has responded strongly to Tory Cllr Colin Barratt's claims that the Liberal Democrats have opposed investment across the Council, and pointed out that the Liberal Democrat group is standing up for the most vulnerable residents in the area. In his open letter to Colin Barratt, his questions the Conservatives motives for their decision: they seem to be purely to raise cash.

Cllr Nick Coombes voted against the budget to stand up for the most vulnerable residents in Bath & North East Somerset

Dear Cllr Barratt,

I am sorry for the typing error in last month's Bathwick Focus; but I am disappointed that you chose to write to three local newspapers rather than contact me directly. Cllr Edwards and I shall of course correct the error in our next edition. However, I think that you too are guilty of crucial errors of omission regarding parking policy.

From 1st May the Conservatives are introducing charges for off-street (pay and display) parking for blue badge holders, something which we opposed, not on-street as I stated. Clearly as a Weston councillor you are a keen reader of our Bathwick Focus to have spotted this.

I find your letter also misleading on the Conservative budget as a whole. For example, the food waste collections you mention would have been introduced this Spring under the original Liberal Democrat plans for the scheme; users of home care services provided by the council are to be asked to pay significantly more this year (unless the Cabinet member heeds the advice of last week's call in panel); and the budget included no funding improvements for Youth Services - indeed Odd Down Youth Club has since closed.

The Liberal Democrats opposed the Conservative budget because it focused solely on raising money at the expense of vulnerable residents for whom this council is supposed to work.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Nicholas Coombes

Bathwick, Liberal Democrat