An act of disrespect?
I believe that Mr France deserves a reply to his very good question (Express, January 14).
Why are the ratepayers of South Elmsall having to pay for the cost of a by-election when on May 6 there will be a district and, more than likely, a general election?
The cost then would not have been charged to the ratepayers of South Elmsall. It would have been absorbed into the general cost of the election on the day.
It is a fact that South Elmsall Town Council would have accommodated the vacancy without any cost to the town's ratepayers – they were proceeding to do so. However, this situation was aborted by the supporters of the independent minority group on the council – they are responsible for this unnecessary public expenditure.
I do not have a problem with having elections. On the contrary, they are the key to democracy.
What does cause me concern is that after committing the people of South Elmsall to the expense of an election, they then seemed to abandon any participation in the election process. I had not seen any of the independent candidate's policy proposals in any manifestoes or posters delivered or displayed until the day before the vote.
I think this is a total act of disrespect to the people of South Elmsall. I am glad the electorate gave their support at the ballot box to Michael Brooks, a candidate who honoured our democratic system with his full participation. It would appear the independent candidate totally dropped out of this election.
As a footnote, I believe anyone who commits public money to public petitions has entered into the arena of public responsibility, and should have their identity made public.
Coun Laurie Harrison, member of South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Moorthorpe Labour Party
Barnsley Road
South Kirkby
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Weather for Wakefield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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