Ribble Valley Conservatives select Carl Ross as Billington Candidate

Carl Ross has been selected by Billington and Old Langho Conservatives as the candidate in the forthcoming by-election for the Ribble Valley Borough Council ,on 23^rd October 2008 .

A former Ribble Valley Borough Councillor with extensive experience of local government, Carl Ross is the overwhelming choice of local Conservatives who feel the ward needs a strong voice after the resignation of Graham Souter as the Liberal Democratic Councillor

 Ken Hind Chairman of Ribble Valley Conservatives, ‘We regret the resignation of Graham Souter from the Council , he had huge experience of local government issues and spoke his mind , the council is poorer for the loss of his contributions . His resignation merely highlights the major divisions amongst Liberal councillors on RVBC where Graham lost the deputy leadership and there were major divisions of opinion over capital projects and other issues which were exposed in Council meetings.’

‘ In Carl we have selected a Billington resident of independent mind who will speak fearlessly in the interests of local people.

 ‘The Liberals who have the right to call this by election, are rushing it in a desperate attempt to hold on to this seat. They knew of Graham Souter’s resignation in advance and were ready with a candidate. The Liberals have a single figure majority and it will be fiercely contested by election by a united resurgent Conservative Party .

 ‘ We will not be bribing the electorate with their own money by promising ill thought out tax cuts at a time when government and local councils are struggling to maintain services with present tax levels. Taxes are too high, but we believe they need in the long term to be reduced when it is prudent to do so, not at a time when tax revenues are falling due to recession, which is creating unemployment plus higher prices and therefore greater need for government help for pensioners, the unemployed and low paid .

 ‘We see as some of the major local issues: closure of post office at Billington, traffic calming measures in the villages, the future of Brockhall Village community centre, more help for the elderly and disabled, defending the future of the Ribble Valley Borough Council which the Liberals nationally want to abolish in favour of larger mega councils. Conservatives locally don’t want to be run from Blackburn Burnley or Preston.