Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Letter: Shropshire Star

I've got another letter in the Shropshire Star. This time on Fatty Prescott's regional assemblies and his counter-democracy moves with regard to planning.

The letter is mostly unedited apart form removing Neil Herron's name. Sorry Neil, I tried to plug your campaign but they took it out.

Assemblies not wanted but we have them

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has recently announced proposals for new powers for his department to force local authorities to release more land for housing developments.

The proposals were put forward because two of the regional assemblies in the south of England kept voting down the number of houses his department said they should allow.

When Prescott first inflicted regional assemblies on England, it was on the premise of bringing democracy closer to the people. I'll say that again - bringing democracy closer to the people.

There has only ever been one referendum on regional assemblies and 73 per cent of the north east region voted against them.

Despite this pretty convincing no vote, the North East Regional Assembly is still here and now plans to incorporate itself and change it's name to give it more "legitimacy".

The Deputy Prime Minister cancelled the other referenda planned for the rest of the country.

We now find ourselves with unwanted, undemocratic and unelected regional assemblies formulating regional policy with absolutely no mandate.

An anti-regional assembly campaigner in the north east has requested a police investigation into the way funds are allocated to regional assemblies.

Local councils vote to give money to them when some of their members are also members of, and being paid by, the regional assembly.

So much for democracy.

Stuart Parr
Telford