Cowards of the (South Gloucestershire) County (Council)

I don’t often write about local politics because a) it’s very dull and b) I know next to nothing about it. But I find tonight’s news from South Gloucestershire Council as depressing as it was unsurprising.

The ruling Conservative cabal had a choice. Either set a new budget that would protect libraries and youth services or knock £6 of the annual green bin charge. Now, I don’t know about you, but we got rid of our green bin as soon as the council had the brass neck to charge for it in the first place. We compost everything that we possibly can. Our busy lives mean we don’t always use the libraries as much as we’d like to, but we know plenty of people who do. And youth services, too. Obviously we don’t use those either, but there are loads of kids who use them and many more who would if there were any. And tonight, the council has decided to cut libraries and youth services.

Yes, I know that a substantial part of a local council’s funding comes from central government but this, don’t forget, is a Tory council living with a Tory government. They are more than friends, they are family. Councillors exist, do they not, to represent their local electorate. They are not, by definition, national politicians. If George Osborne cuts money to a local Tory council, and the local Tories were elected to maintain and preserve local services, shouldn’t they do so, regardless of what national politicians do and say?

Have these people, the local Tories, no consciences at all? They are allowing the government to slash vital services to the sick and the elderly and at the same time hoping that a charity will step in and fill the void. This is a fact. It is what is happening and not just around here. Imagine you have a life-inhibiting, life-changing or life-shortening condition, David Cameron and George Osborne are allowing you to live with your life-inhibiting, life-changing and life-shortening conditions with even less support than ever. The councillors in South Gloucestershire are presenting us with the thin end of the wedge.

To misquote Pastor Niemoller (no offence intended):

First, they came for the libraries but I did not protest because I didn’t use the library very often.
Then, they came for youth services, but I did not protest because I was not young.
Then, they slashed services to the sick and disabled, but I did not protest because I am not (yet) sick and disabled.
Then, they closed the day centres for local communities to use, but I did not protest because I don’t use the day centres.
Then, they allowed the bus companies to withdraw the non-profitable bus routes and I did not protest because I’ve got a car.
But one day, I will, if I am lucky, get old and I might want to read a little more.
I might have grandchildren who will want things to do and to keep them off the streets.
And how will I cope if I become sick and disabled but there are no longer any services?
And when I am too old to drive, will I be imprisoned in my own him because there are no buses?

It’s not just about libraries and youth services. It’s about preserving everything we value and hold true. South Gloucestershire is being paved over and the people have no say. There is no policy, no strategy beyond cutting spending and allowing builders to build what they want, when they want and where they want.

For 24 years, I have always preferred the South Gloucestershire way of doing things to Bristol City Council’s, but no more. We’re too far down the slippery slope to stop it now and soon there will be nothing for the councillors to do because they’ll either have paved it over, sold it off or closed it down.

These Tory idiots in South Gloucestershire are more than a match for anything that walking ego George Ferguson has come up with in the big city down south. It’s time the door was kicked open by men and women who have something better to offer the good citizens of this county. But are there any out there?