IN HIS article in the SNJ of the April 13, Neil Carmichael MP sneers at what he calls ‘the rather grand Ebley Mill’ base of Stroud District Council.

Personally I think a fine and historic town such as Stroud should have grand headquarters.

Moreover, the move to the mill helped to save an historic building and to rejuvenate an important part of Stroud and its canal.

I agree with Mr Carmichael when he says in the same article that there have been ‘many unsatisfactory planning decisions’ but he is wrong to blame Stroud Council.

The council opposed them all.

Mr Carmichael blames the fact that Stroud did not at first have an overall plan.

Such plans, properly and carefully drawn up, took a great deal of time to prepare. When Mr Eric Pickles (whatever happened to him?) lifted proper planning controls and weakened the power of local authorities many councils, Conservative as well as Labour did not have sufficient time to get full plans in place before land grabbers jumped in.

Mr Carmichael says: “Now, quite deliberately, local taxes, including business rates, have become the main source of revenue.”

He forgot to say that this is because financial support from the Conservative government (our taxes) to local government have been greatly reduced.

So when local councils are unable to do all the things they used to do – blame the Conservative government.

To preserve local democracy we need councillors who will defend it and not give in to a dictatorial Conservative government.

A final point – is it fair and balanced to have a weekly plug for the Conservative party without having a weekly article by members of other parties, especially in the run-up to local elections?

Peter B Godfrey

King’s Stanley