‘Don’t Phone A Friend, Phone A Councillor’ Says Stop The Cuts Alliance

Stop The Cuts Alliance‘ is calling on Island residents to ensure they share their views of the proposed cuts to public services with their Isle of Wight county councillor.

TelephoneThey are urging residents to “make the bells ring out at County Hall”, by calling the council headquarters next Monday (31 January) and arrange a meeting with their councillor to discuss the budget proposals.

The Alliance say that the Isle of Wight council’s ruling Conservative Group will be publishing their 2011/12 budget this Friday.

Massive cuts to public services
As we already know, it contains massive cuts to public services for the next financial year including; £175,000 on tourist info centres, £100,000 on beach lifeguards, £2.1m on area based grant activities like Connexions and support for schools, £100,000 on public conveniences, £3.1m tightening eligibility criteria and raising charges for social care services and £633,000 on closing libraries.

Tanja Rebel, Alliance spokesperson, said “When the public see the figures in this budget we want them to phone County Hall on Monday and arrange a meeting to voice their opinions to their local councillor. We want the phones ringing off their hooks and councillors’ diaries full with individual meetings”.

If you plan to get in touch with your councillor you can do so by calling the central council number, 01983 821000.

Image: Trace Meek under CC BY 2.0