Election please (From Ledbury Reporter)

Election please

10:30am Wednesday 4th April 2012 in Letters

I WRITE in response to the article reporting the recent town council meeting and the request for an election.

Some readers may recall that I had a letter published about a year ago asking this same question: why is there no election for town councillors?

A response was published at the same time by the clerk to the council advising that in order to call an election, not only do there have to be more candidates than there are seats available, but also 10 people (on the electoral roll) must petition the council for an election.

It was this last point that I did n o t k n o w a b o u t when I w r o t e t h a t letter. Coun Jayne Roberts is right to say that candidates are often few in number because of the time commitment needed to devote to council work.

Our councillors collectively do a very good job for the town and they are committed.

In view of the recent issues surrounding the supermarket debacle, I for one think there would be sufficient interest to warrant an election at the next available opportunity.

Democracy has to be seen to be done and an election is the only way to achieve this: co-option, no matter how well intended, doesn’t offer the same level of transparency and accountability.

Coun Roberts should note that there is at least one quality children’s clothes shops in Ledbury: Lily and Tom (at Top Cross).

They sell lovely children’s clothes, and there is always a discount rail outside where you can get some good bargains.

Clarks sells a wide range of children’s footwear.

EDWARD HOGAN
Ledbury