I WOULD like to express my thanks to the people of Uplands in electing me as their councillor last Thursday. As unusual as it might be, I would like to compliment my near neighbour and Green opponent Peter Richardson on a well-fought campaign.

It is tinged with sadness that we were unable to win the day in re-electing David Drew as our MP.

I will work with and for the community to achieve the best we can in a difficult situation, not least in working to support the community to oppose the astonishingly bad application for housing on the Grange Fields site.

But there are many other issues that need attention, including re-examining the district’s council tax collection arrangements in the light of the use of prison to collect a five-year-old debt.

Chas Townley

Labour councillor for Uplands