The elections in Durham this May for the Unitary Council will cost local taxpayers more than half a million pounds.

Three quarters of local residents voted against a vast unitary council in the referendum last year but Labour ignored us and the true cost of this decision is coming home to roost.

It is bad enough that Labour ignored the clear voice of the people but the huge cost we must now all pay adds insult to injury. There are even possible plans for another election in 2010 which would see taxpayers reaching deep into their pockets yet again.

My fellow campaigner Redvers Crooks said that “it’s no wonder Council Tax under the Labour County Council has shot up again this year. Labour are incapable of doing anything other than waste our money. This is the same group that spent £4 million of our money on spin in the last year alone.”

The Lib Dems have fought against this expensive and unnecessary new Council from the start because we believe in providing value for money
for local people. The Labour-run County Council has increased Council Tax by more than inflation – again.

The Lib Dem-run City Council raised it by LESS than inflation – again – despite a considerable reduction in the grant from the Labour Government.

We can only hope that the new Unitary council isn’t Labour-run, otherwise we’ll all be digging deep next year.