SO the people have spoken, and it is clear they do not want a town council in Letchworth GC, writes Louise McEvoy. The elections last week resulted in 22 of the 24 seats on Letchworth Garden City Council (LGCC) being won by members of the Help Eliminate Le

SO the people have spoken, and it is clear they do not want a town council in Letchworth GC, writes Louise McEvoy

The elections last week resulted in 22 of the 24 seats on Letchworth Garden City Council (LGCC) being won by members of the Help Eliminate Letchworth Parish Council (HELP) campaign group, whose clear mandate was to break-up the council as quickly as possible.

The remaining two seats were won by town council supporters Paul Ross - by six votes - and Sue Johnson - who won after a dead heat with HELP candidate Rodney Whitworth resulted in lots being drawn in her favour.

Clearly, the majority of Letchworth GC residents failed to see the value of the town council and begrudged paying about 78p (Band D) a week for its service.

In April last year, it was plain from a parish poll that Letchworth GC residents did not want a town council - 2,994 voters said yes to getting rid of it, compared to just 928 who were against the idea.

But town councillors failed to listen to the electorate and remained dogmatic in their principles and priorities.

Last year's poll gave council members the opportunity to change, to speak to the community they claimed to serve and to deliver what they wanted. But, fatally, they did not take this opportunity and it has proved their downfall.

I have no doubt town councils can be effective and valuable within a community, but only when its members have a clear and uncompromised agenda.

A plethora of petty arguments, hidden agendas and a handful of egotistical members have ultimately caused the demise of LGCC.