Tories Ride Roughshod Over Local Views

2.58.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Oct 2006

Liberal Democrats across Oxfordshire are horrified to hear that even more important decisions are now to be made by the Conservative County Cabinet without involving local representatives and residents.

"Just as the Tories have ridden roughshod over the views of Oxford residents over parking permit charges," said Cllr Zoé Patrick, leader of the Opposition on Oxfordshire County Council, "they are now lining up to do the same to the rest of the county."

Zoé was commenting on recent news that the member steering groups for the integrated transport schemes in Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Grove/Wantage, Henley, Oxford and Witney are to be abolished in favour of decisions being made by the cabinet members at County and District level.

Zoé said, "The steering groups involved the local parish, town, district and county councillors and were well-placed to take account of local feelings and suggestions. I now fear that the cabinet members wish to isolate themselves from public opinion as a means of ignoring it.

"We can see here the Tories' unwillingness to listen to residents' views, and ignoring other people's opinions."