Liberal Democrats Appalled as Rural Areas Miss Out

12.00.00am GMT Wed 11th Jan 2006

Liberal Democrats have denounced County Council's decision to pull out of Area Forums in South Oxfordshire, despite keeping a presence at those in the City.

Cllr David Turner (Liberal Democrat, Chalgrove) said, "These meetings were widely appreciated by many Town and Parish Councillors. To end the County input sends a message to residents of South Oxfordshire that they are not as important as residents of the City. The report said that there are other ways to engage with these local councils but no suggestions were made in the report, or by Conservatives supporting this move in yesterday's Council meeting."

Area Forums in the Oxford Fringe, Thame and Wallingford have been well supported. Cllr Anne Purse (Liberal Democrat, Wheatley) spoke of the success of the Oxford Fringe Forum, where there are regular attendances of 40 - 60 people, with a record attendance of at least 200 when topics of particular interest were discussed. "Pulling out of the Forums is a step to destroy something that has given local people an opportunity to express their views. Oxford Fringe meetings have been a dynamic grassroots opportunity for people to have their say. Unfortunately the County is refusing to listen any more," she said.

The change proposed by an all Tory working group were also supported by Labour and Green councillors. David Turner said, "Once again this shows the lack of knowledge and concern from these political groups for things affecting rural areas of the County."