Over the last two and a half years, Liberal Democrats have run Wokingham Borough Council with the support of Labour councillors.
Residents have not been listened to, their views have been disregarded, and there have been attempts to stifle debate. We have seen countless examples of poor decision making and woolly thinking. And in a clear breach of previous promises, we have seen developers given the go ahead to concrete over green fields across the Borough, especially at Hall Farm.
Just look at schools. The previous Conservative administration delivered the first school to be built in the Borough for half a century and we were on track to deliver the new Sixth Form. When the Liberal Democrats inherited the plans, they said they were committed to delivering the extra places and new Sixth Form, yet, efforts stalled. Their dithering caused costs to mount. When they failed to deliver Bohunt Sixth Form in time, pupils were only informed at the eleventh hour in July that they would need to find alternative Sixth Form places for September. This is not the way to treat young people at a crucial time in their education.
Then there’s our local economy. In 2023, the Liberal Democrats and Labour more than doubled car parking charges, despite a petition signed by 4,000 residents against the increase. Parking charges rose again this year, even after criticism from businesses in our high streets, and charges have been introduced at some car parks that were previously free. Local traders have clearly said that the increases have reduced footfall. None of this helped by the Liberal Democrats’ ideological obsession with stopping people from using cars, let slip when they said they wanted to stop “inappropriate journeys”.
They also scrapped free parking at Christmas and at the same time subsidised residents free bus travel to shop outside the Borough.
Conservatives would not have increased the charges to support local businesses, which in turn create jobs and livelihoods for residents.
In the summer of 2023, the Liberal Democrat Council started covering over public bins as part of a plan to scrap some of them, and began implementing a plan to reduce collection of others. This created overflowing litter and rubbish blown across our streets and parks. The administration only stepped in to put a stop to the situation after the Conservatives pointed out that the decision had not been properly made. When 2,000 residents signed a petition against the removal, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader called the text of a supporting motion “annoying”. Meanwhile, the administration pressed on with scrapping weekly household waste collection, once again in the face of clear local opposition.
The previous Government gave extra funding for road maintenance, but this has not led to improvements.
Conservatives believe residents should receive value for money and, as we did when we were previously in power, we are committed to no reduction in front line services.
It is important that political parties keep their promises to residents. Yet we have also witnessed Liberal Democrat councillors tear up repeated commitments to protect parts of our Borough such as Hall Farm by pushing through their Local Plan for development, with support from the Labour Group Leader.
They prevented debate on a petition signed by 1,700 residents around development at Hall Farm – despite similar debates being allowed under the Conservatives.
Conservatives oppose development at Hall Farm, and called on the Liberal Democrats to consider alternatives. We would also make the case for a lower housing target from the Government that is sensible, sustainable and the right level for Wokingham Borough.
In July 2022, the Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Finance said “We want to be able to control the debate”. Following this they have made unsuccessful attempts to curtail speaking during Council meetings.
You deserve an administration that will invest in services, not cut them. You deserve to have charges kept to a level you can afford. You deserve to have a Council who will listen to you will deliver on local communities’ priorities. Your Conservative councillors want our Borough to thrive by enabling businesses to thrive, investing in excellent services, and giving tax payers value for money.
Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of Wokingham Conservatives
