Urgently need a town council

I think Ian’s letter regarding a town council last week an excellent proposal.

We urgently require an elected town council made up of NON political, unpaid councillors to be responsible for running the town.

People who are upstanding real representatives of the community who are willing to put the town first together with the residents’ best interests in health, and facilities.

We have Neighbouhood Councils run by unpaid, elected, NON political people who have a far better understanding of their residents, represent residents’ views but have no money to pay for anything, and even if they did have to go begging to Horsham District Council for either permission to do something (place a bench or dog bin) at a desperately needed position.

There is a ‘Special Charge’ added to our Council Tax bills - watch the post for the soon to be announced inevitable increase for less benefit to us - but no accountability for its spend. If the amount collected exceeds the allocated spend, it is lost in the accounts to be spent elsewhere.

Parish Councils have the money collected allocated to them and, generally, the spend is accepted by residents as they can see where their money goes.

They do not appear to go begging for money due to cuts they purportedly need to make because they live within their means. Oh that HDC and WSCC could be as prudent! I propose HDC issues a referendum as to when we can have a town council and that would be a simple answer to HDC’s view that no person wants a town council.

No doubt HDC will prove that as well as Rookwood being an unused open space unvalued and unused by the public with no significant wildlife nor flooding possibilities, there is no reason on earth that could support such a imprudent move! JAMESBOOK Patching, Horsham