I AM standing against the leader of Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC), Ian Carr, in his Charlton Ward as an Independent. I believe Mr Carr has been in office too long.

There are issues at TVBC that need to be tackled such as the particularly high level of staff sickness which could be a symptom of a wider malaise and unhappiness among employees and TVBC, and the council in its slow response to FOI requests.

We need a change at the top at TVBC!

Secondly, contrary to the assertions of some, I do believe the Newsquest publications on the whole are fair and balanced while at the same time not shying away from being controversial.

The Andover Advertiser has improved under Mike Sims and is more pro-active in searching out stories. The Echo cannot be faulted for its liveliness.

And to show despite being a Newsquest columnist I can still take a detached view, I believe the Hampshire Chronicle could sometimes be more consistent as to how much it wishes to cover or not cover the affairs of Test Valley and not just when it is short of Winchester and Eastleigh news.

At least, unlike some other media organisations, Newsquest editors are not told what line to take on issues such as Iraq!

RICHARD J KIDD, Andover.