Proud of much-needed investment in Newbury

IN a recent campaign letter for the by-election in Clay Hill, the Tories say they will oppose ‘unnecessary increases in the precept’ and ‘champion excellent value-for-money services’.

The only reason we are having this by-election – costing around £6,000 – is because the previous Tory councillor failed to turn up and was disqualified.

And the Tory councillor who was present when we agreed this year’s precept did not oppose it: He abstained.

Perhaps the Tories should look to their colleagues at West Berkshire Council when it comes to spending council tax payers’ money wisely.

The shambles of the London Road Industrial Estate redevelopment and the destruction of the football ground is perhaps the most obvious example. In response to long-term cuts by the

Tory-controlled West Berkshire Council, Newbury Town Council has stepped in to try and fill some of the gaps.

We are investing in desperately needed youth work with a three-year partnership with Berkshire Youth, and support for both the Riverside Community Centre in Clay Hill and the Community Youth Project in Greenham.

We continue to support Citizens Advice and give grants to local organisations doing amazing work supporting the most vulnerable in our community.

We have listened to residents in Skyllings and totally upgraded the playground there with equipment much better suited to the location. And we’ve allocated funds to address a long-term backlog of modernisation of all our playgrounds, including the one in Walton Way, funding that the previous Tory administration at the town council did not provide. We were the first council in West Berkshire to declare a climate emergency and have since reduced our own carbon footprint by almost 30 per cent and launched a new Carbon Grant to help local organisations reduce their carbon footprint.

And, along with many enthusiastic community volunteers, we are working to increase biodiversity in Newbury with new wildflower meadows in the City Recreation Ground and Victoria Park.

We are proud of the investment we are making in Newbury on behalf of our residents and believe the total increase in precept over the last two years of 16.9p per week represents real value-for-money in local services.

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Clay Hill, Stuart Gourley, will help ensure we can continue to deliver. MARTIN COLSTON

Liberal Democrat town councillor for West Fields

Leader of Newbury Town Council