HAVING just received from the Conservative Party their latest election leaflet that had on it five pledges – upon further examination and doing some research, I seriously wonder if they have costed the pledges out, and it was strange that they never bothered to make an alternative budget at the budget-setting meeting of Southampton City Council.

From the research I have been able to gather the following information – to restore the pensioners’ benefits would cost in the region of £1m, to instigate across the city a 20mph zone in residential areas would cost £1.3m, and it may not be legally enforceable.

As for their pledge to invest more into roads and pavements across the city, I understand the budget this year is about £2m, and there are approximately £8m worth of road and pavement repairs in the city needed. Where are they going to find the £6m or any portion of that?

If they freeze the council tax does that mean that council employees will be losing their jobs or not getting a pay rise and have to go to food banks to survive? By scrapping the first permit charge they will be losing approximately £250,000 coming into the city.

All this on top of the city council having to find savings of £30m next year, which are being imposed on it by central ConDem Government.

What the Conservatives in Southampton are in effect saying is that they have to find savings of £30m, along with the £1m for the pensioner benefits, £1.3m for the 20mph residential zones, and £6m for road and pavement repairs – that makes £38.25m that will have to be found in the city.

Are they going to close libraries or Sure Start Centres? Or is it a case that they have just plucked these things out of thin air, knowing that they are not going to take any seats but only lose them in May?

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