My letter to the press

Cllr Ian McDonald is being either disengenuous or deliberately economical with the truth when he states that the Conservatives can allocate money to improve the Council housing stock in Maldens & Coombe.As a former Co-Chairman of the Neighbourhood he is fully aware that under the 1988 Local Government Finance Act the Neighbourhood Committee is not allowed to financially support either maintenance or the general housing fund of our Council stock.To suggest the Conservatives continually refuse to take responsibility for the decisions we make is risible and to further allege we are 'ashamed' of our record simply puts McDonald's posturing to shame.In the open way we run our committee, Cllr McDonald has every opportunity to influence decisions and I cannot recall him ever objecting to how the money is spent. Indeed we have included items suggested by himself.On the question of pride, we are proud that the residents of Maldens & Coombe have put their trust in us to try and sort out the shambles - New Malden High St and Manor Park - bequeathed us by his own incompetence.We will continue to repay their trust by our continuing battle to save Springboard. We will continue to fight the Lib Dem Administration of this Council in their contempuous disregard for the wishes of residents to keep weekly rubbish collections and to do everything in our power to help the elderly and most vulnerable members of our society who are in danger of being left behind.