Madam, In last week's Ross Gazette Mrs P Pope had the temerity to suggest that to avoid the local by-election which is taking place on Thursday of this week that the Conservative candidate Margaret Lucas should have been co-opted. Surely it would have been fairer for the Liberal Democrat candidate Caroline Utting to have been co-opted as the vacancy has been caused by the resignation of a Liberal Democrat councillor ! Mrs Pope was also perhaps not aware that it was the Conservative faction on the Town Council which called for this by-election !
When it comes to local council elections I would prefer that party political allegiances are put to one side and the candidate who is best-suited to the job is elected. In this case I fully endorse the comments made by last year's mayor, Cllr John Edwards, that Caroline Utting will make a very good town councillor as she has done an excellent job as secretary of the Ross Town Plan Steering Group over the past three years and is also a key figure in the Association of Ross Traders (ART). I can speak from experience in the case of RoWToP as I am on the Steering Group and without Caroline Utting's commitment, enthusiasm and original thinking the Town Plan would not have generated such positive responses.
Although not wishing to disparage the current councillors in any way I believe that a younger fresh face with new ideas can only benefit the town. As it appears that many residents of the Ross West ward are unsure of the election arrangements can I remind your readers that the election is on Thursday, May 27th from 7am – 10pm with voting taking place at the Bowls Club and Brampton Abbotts School - and no voting card is necessary.
Dai Harries, Ross