Regeneration from a new Unitary Local Government Authority for West Somerset

I came across a press release by West Somerset District Council that left me completely incensed. You can find it at egovmonitor.com

The press release sought support for Downing Street online petitions against proposals for a new Somerset Local Government Unitary Authority.

There was a feedback box for comments and, dutifully, I spent something over an hour filling it in.

Unfortunately, when I pressed the send button, there was no evidence that my comments had been accepted and they certainly didn't appear below the article where they should have been.

Perhaps my comments have been placed in moderation. If so, the eGov Monitor site should have told me so both before and after I took the time to comment. Leaving me in limbo not knowing is frankly, in my opinion, rude.

So I don't feel my time has been completely wasted, I detail by comments below. Basically, I believe substantial regeneration will never be achieved under the existing Authority and any other Authority would have to be better. Also I resent paying for a campaign I don't support through the rates.

Who is paying for this campaign? Who asked the rate payers?

The good citizens of West Somerset may well ask who is paying for this campaign and whether they have been consulted about spending this money on trying to save District Councillors jobs and expense accounts.

Those who packed the main streets of Minehead in fruitless efforts to modify West Somerset Council unpopular policies may hope a unitary authority might provide a new style Council service that is more open to democratic debate.

Those who have watched aghast at the West Somerset District Council's policies of selling off car parks, needed for town centre visitors, and building brand new multi million pound Council offices for local Government bureacrats, may well consider a unitary authority could not possibly do worse.

Those who consider the policy partnership between the Somerset County Council and the citizens of West Somerset relating to the area around Minehead Railway station to have been hugely more successful than anything West Somerset District Council has achieved may well feel the public has nothing to fear from a unitary Somerset authority.

West Somerset needs to move forward to grasp the many opportunities that are available in the 21st century.

Hopefully, the new unitary authority structure will provide the people of West Somerset with a new open government culture that will enable the people of West Somerset to move forward united and with a new confidence so previously lacking.

Rob