Letters - Friday, September 18, 2020

I write in response to Roger Barstow Frost’s letter (Your Say, September 16).

I am afraid he has missed the point. The reason for submitting our proposal in advance of the White Paper is to try to get Lancashire into the Government’s first tranche of new Combined Authorities. It is clear that Government sees Combined Authorities as the vehicle for ‘levelling up’ and the present structure of local government in Lancashire simply would not lead to an effective Combined Authority; hence our proposal to change it.

There are several factors that have led to the structure we have proposed.

Firstly, Ministers see unitary local authorities as the most economic and effective form of local government. Having spent all my adult life in local government, I agree with them.

Secondly, we believe that Lancashire is too large (geographically and in terms of population) and too diverse to become a unitary county council, as is proposed in other parts of the country.

Thirdly, Ministers have given a clear indication that they would not wish to see an increase in the number of children’s authorities; in Lancashire that would lead to a maximum of three unitary authorities.

And finally, we have sought to make the three unitary authorities as equal in size and capacity as possible to make them equal partners in the combined authority.

The question then to be decided is which local authorities to amalgamate, bearing in mind Government has given a clear steer there should be no cross county amalgamations and no divisions of existing authorities.

All in all, we believe our proposal best meets the criteria and gives the people of Lancashire the best chance of benefiting from the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.

County Councillor

Geoff Driver CBE

Leader, Lancashire County Council

Virus

Biosecurity is the new buzzword

When I look to the future, I see a world of vaccines and testing which will be mandatory in all but name.

You won’t have to be vaccinated/tested but if you want to travel on public transport you must comply, if you want to work you must comply, if you want your children to go to school you must comply. Biosecurity will be the buzzword for our future and it’s time to choose: Will you comply?

Harry Francis

North Shore

Politics

Direct trains to capital to continue

I am happy to be able to reassure my constituent Mr Jones (Your Say, September 16) that contrary to his somewhat alarmist letter, direct rail services to London continue.

It is the proposed new service operated by Grand Central that is not now going to operate.

The franchised Avanti West Coast service remains, albeit operating only one way under the current reduced timetable.

As services are re-introduced over the rest of September, more services will be resumed however. Indeed, it was a pleasure to spot the train they named “Brighton Belle” in honour of the new service pulling out of Euston just this week.

I might also gently remind Mr Jones that were it not for a Conservative government investing some £48bn in our railways, we would not have the electrified line to Preston we now have and which I campaigned for which enables these direct services.

Paul Maynard

MP, Blackpool North & Cleveleys

Brexit

Actions threaten our whole reputation

I, as well as many of my friends, am deeply concerned by the Government’s plan to break promises made in the Withdrawal Agreement; an international treaty signed less than a year ago.

The Northern Ireland Secretary admitted this would break international law.

The Internal Markets Bill would renege on commitments to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and would set negotiations with Europe back to square one.

The Conservatives pride themselves on being the party of law and order, of economic stability and of the Union.

Now the Government is openly breaking international law and paving the way to a no-deal economic disaster. How can the Conservative and Unionist Party jeopardise the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland?

The Prime Minister does not speak for ordinary Conservatives.

He was elected to deliver a comprehensive, ‘oven-ready’ deal with Europe, which would help communities and businesses like mine.

Yet his actions threaten not only the reputation of the Conservative Party, but the global reputation of the UK as a trustworthy nation.

Diana Wallis

address supplied