A gravy train with too many passengers

9.31.40am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Apr 2008

Responding to last night's decision by North Somerset Councillors to award themselves massive inflation-busting pay rises, Mike Bell the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Weston-super-Mare commented:

"Families in Weston and across North Somerset are struggling with the demands of a very tough financial climate, with higher mortgage bills, higher council tax bills and higher fuel bills. They can't award themselves 50% pay rises and nor should greedy councillors.

"Having spent seven years as a local councillor myself, it is clear that we've got too many low calibre politicians running our Town Hall. The answer isn't to pay them more, but to get rid of half of them.

"Years ago it was considered a privilege to stand as a councillor. Today it is just a gravy train with too many passengers.

"This month local groups like Weston Arts Festival, North Somerset Citizens Advice Bureau and Preanes Green Resource Centre are having their grants cut by North Somerset Council. Why? Because council bosses say there isn't enough money. What a disgrace that councillors have awarded themselves a quarter of a million pounds more in pay - and even more in pensions - when volunteers delivering key local services get the chop."