Council urged to rethink cuts proposals

Angry residents' told to "fight as hard as they can" against plans at 'Save Our Services' meeting

ANGRY residents have been told to “fight as hard as they can” to oppose West Berkshire Council’s proposed cuts to vital public services.

Eight libraries, four children’s centres and one care home are all under threat of closure as part of the district council’s plan to save £17.5m in the next financial year.

A campaign group called ‘West Berkshire Save Our Services’ was formed to urge the council to rethink its proposals.

In the group’s first public meeting on Monday, more than 60 people joined representatives from different political parties in St George’s Hall, Wash Common, to discuss the plans and come up with alternative ideas.

Founder David Marsh opened the meeting by quoting: “We must fight – we may not win, but if we don’t fight they will always win”.

He added: “We can achieve more together than by working in isolation – maybe it will, work maybe it won’t, but let’s give it a go.”

That set the tone for the remainder of the meeting – with West Berkshire Council’s opposition leader Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) saying: “So many people think that just because a council or a government says they are going to make a cut it is definitely going to happen.

“If we all relax and let them get on with it they will win, we need to fight. Let’s fight as hard as we can.”

Steve Masters, the branch president of the local GMB trade union, represents workers both inside and outside West Berkshire Council.

Speaking at the meeting, he said: “Our council should have the guts to say we don’t accept these cuts and we will not sign up to them.

“They should immediately rescind the expenses allowance increase and show they can stand up to a very draconian policy of austerity and not be the whipping boys of Mr Osborne and represent their constituents in a proper manner.”

Mr Masters said the proposed cuts were “too far-reaching” and had the potential to “erode the very sense of communities we hold so dear in West Berkshire”.

He added: “This evening we come together across a wide spectrum. Through a solidarity of purpose we share a common goal in defending these vital services that our county provide.

“We will show the council who have so far, frankly, been unable to defend the indefensible – offering no other soundbite than ‘we are constrained by central government’.”

Liberal Democrat Martha Vickers suggested looking into the possibility of volunteers running the libraries, saying: “I know that means loss of jobs and that’s awful but at least you would still have the buildings and services.”

Wash Common resident Peter Norman, who stood as an Apolitical candidate in last year’s local and general election, said: “Libraries are an asset, let’s use them as day centres for the elderly or use them in other ways which can benefit communities.”

He added that the council should have given residents’ a “proper choice”, by asking them if they would be willing to pay more council tax to keep services running.

Tory councillor Howard Bairstow, who represents the Falkland ward, admitted he didn’t think the council were being inventive enough and suggested selling gas and electricity from the offices and putting the profits back into council funds.

His fellow Tory Adrian Edwards urged people to have their say via the public consultation.