Don't scrap Tovil Parish Council

Letter to the Kent Messenger about the plans to scrap the parish council:

Dear Editor,

Localism and democracy are both necessary for a cohesive society. Local citizens having a say in how their area is run is central to Green ideology and, according to the Prime Minister, it should be central to Conservative thinking too. The idea of trying to scrap a parish council, just because it makes a decision that one member doesn't like, goes against the concept of democracy.

Worse too is that this affront to localism and democracy is being led by a Conservative councillor. If Cllr Hogg thinks the plan to buy the school is wrong then he needs to get elected as a parish councillor and argue his case, and if residents disagree with the decision they need to vote differently at the next election.

We need more parish and town councils, not less.

Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Green Party