The real story of the Thatcham by-election

I AGREE with Richard Garvie that “people are fed up with the mess at West Berkshire Council” (Newbury Weekly News, March 21).

However, as residents will know, this mess has developed over 18 years of Conservative administration.

Mr Garvie has not experienced this mess himself.

He has largely lived in the USA since he stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for Wellingborough and Rushden in the 2015 General Election.

The new Lib Dem administration is working hard to sort out this mess – for example over CIL charges unjustly levied (Newbury Weekly News, March 21).

However, this task will take several more years to be completed – especially as the budget for the current financial year was set by the former Conservative administration.

Mr Garvie also misrepresents the result of the recent by-election for North East Thatcham.

David Lunn, the Lib Dem candidate, won with almost 60 per cent of the vote.

This is exceptional, especially as the other two candidates were wellknown former town councillors (Richard Crumley and Gary Johnson).

In the 2023 town council election, Lee Dillon was effectively elected uncontested for North East Thatcham, because the Conservatives could only stand three candidates for the five seats (Richard Crumley and Gary Johnson stood in other wards).

Any comparison between 2023 and 2024 is therefore completely meaningless.

Mr Garvie is not a reliable commentator on West Berkshire, nor on Thatcham.

SIMON PIKE

Liberal Democrat councillor for Thatcham West ward

West Berkshire Council