Changes to council will be for worst

LETTER - The imposition of a unitary authority by this Government has inevitably led to the anticipated dissolution of our own Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council.

In its place we are expecting a town council with boundaries more or less similar to those of the borough.

The difference will be the much reduced power of decisions it will be allowed to make and the restriction of funds to implement plans.

It seems probable that it will be responsible for the public conveniences, street lighting and cleaning, and it will manage The Quarry and the markets in its area.

Apart from not having much to do, virtually all the assets currently owned and managed by the borough council will have been taken away by the new unitary authority. There will be no assets left to produce any substantial revenue.

If the town council needed capital for any project or revenue to ensure a high standard of care for The Quarry or the markets, then it would have to go cap in hand to the unitary authority - and their own schemes would inevitably have priority every time.

Many town councils have managed to retain assets that produce a reliable source of extra income. Often it is the car parking that is left with a town council, but our unitary authority has insisted on having it.

Although we shall have councillors representing us on the new unitary authority, they will always be in a minority when there's a vote for new projects and for improvements.

So in what way do we think the new system will be better than the one we now have? You can bet our council tax will rise more than ever before in spite of all the predictions and promises.

That's "progress".

Alan B Shrank, Shrewsbury