Somerset County Council wants more power. They have submitted a plan to the Government allowing them to become a "Unitary" authority. You do not need to be a Professor of linguistics to understand what this involves. "Unitary" is derived from the word "unit" - meaning one council to control everything. The implications are clear. Somerset wants to gobble up all the powers currently held by five local councils. And then (Daleks that they are) exterminate the councils altogether.

It is no surprise that these councils are not very pleased about the plan. Get rid of them and you get rid of local links with the public. And getting rid of them will cost a small fortune and mean the loss of many hundreds of jobs. No wonder the Trades Unions are dead set against the idea. This is a not a party political issue, it is a matter of pure common sense. South Somerset Council, for instance, happens to be Liberal Democrat controlled (like the County Council) but they think the plan is badly flawed. And one Liberal Democrat MP, David Heath, has already voiced his concerns in a House of Commons debate.The Government says applicants (like Somerset) have to prove that Unitary Status would be popular.I don't think Somerset County Council's application is popular or sensible.  I invite you to give your views. Please CONTACT ME before it is too late.

AND SEE THE REAL ARGUMENTS IN THE MOVIE:

All five District councils have now written to Ruth Kelly condemning Somerset County Council's plan.

Read all about it: Just click the letter

On March 14th council leaders, union chiefs, even members of the famed "Sealed Knot" (who turned up entirely in a personal capacity of course, because the Sealed Knot never gets involved in political arguments) lobbied Parliament to stop Somerset's plans, muskets, pipes and all: 

Or read my latest article in the Western Daily Press:

AND NOW YOU HAVE A VOTE TOO. THE PRIME MINISTER's OFFICIAL WEBSITE IS CARRYING A SPECIAL PETITION TO GATHER NAMES OF THOSE OPPOSED TO SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL'S PLAN.

CLICK ON THE FAMILIAR FRONT DOOR NOW AND SAY NO TO UNITARY SUPERSIZED SOMERSET

 

 

 

(We are not responsible for the content of external web sites)

• http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/ SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL  
• http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/ SEDGEMOOR DISTRICT COUNCIL
• http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/home.asp WEST SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL 
• http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/ SOUTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL  
• http://www.mendip.gov.uk/ MENDIP DISTRICT COUNCIL
• http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/ TAUNTON DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL  

And for committed fans of the Dalek here are some helpful links:

• http://www.wilson203.freeserve.co.uk/Dalek%20Plans.html Build your own Dalek!
• http://www.thesouthwestdalekcrew.org.uk/home.html Borrow a Dalek locally !
• http://www.timewasshop.co.uk/DrWhoToys.htm#REMOTE%20CONTROL%20DALEKS You can even buy a Dalek.....not that you will need to because County Hall in Taunton is absolutely packed with them!