Councillors representing the Leake Independents group on Rushcliffe Borough Council issue statement on the future of West Bridgford and whether or not a town council will be created.
‘We feel it necessary to respond to Cllr Wheeler’s comments published on West Bridgford Wire on 9th March.
‘As he correctly states, we did support the proposal: “The Labour Group recommends a Community Governance Review to establish a West Bridgford Town Council to be included in the 2025/26 budget.”
‘Our support for this proposal was based on the following reasoning: currently, West Bridgford does not have a Town Council, and its affairs are managed by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC).
‘However, when—and this is not a matter of if but when—RBC ceases to exist, the question of who will assume this management role will arise. Our remarks were aimed at ensuring the future security of West Bridgford residents, preventing them from being left in limbo, and safeguarding West Bridgford’s distinct identity.
‘Contrary to Cllr Wheeler’s assertion, this is not about creating a new layer of bureaucracy; that layer already exists. Our proposal is about ensuring that it continues to function for the benefit of West Bridgford residents.
‘It is also worth noting that establishing a Town Council could lead to an increase in the precept. However, this would likely bring West Bridgford in line with the level already paid by the rest of the borough. At present, many of the events and capital projects in West Bridgford are financially supported by the rest of the borough, where residents pay higher council tax.
‘At the same meeting, another amendment was proposed to increase funding for helping people adapt their homes to make them suitable for their needs. This would primarily benefit elderly and disabled residents.
‘Unfortunately, the ruling party voted against this amendment, choosing instead to allocate funds to other projects, such as “Welcome to Rushcliffe” road signs, which cost approximately £70,000. In our view, this money would be far better spent assisting those in need. £70,000 could fund around thirty stair lifts, several adapted bathrooms, or a significant number of handrails and ramps—investments that would directly improve the quality of life for vulnerable residents.
‘We stand by our position and believe these decisions reflect our commitment to the long-term well-being and identity of West Bridgford, as well as our prioritisation of support for those who need it most.’
Cllrs Lesley Way, Carys Thomas and Jason Billin, Leake Independents
