The Forgotten corner of Sandhurst (Letter)

10.40.33pm GMT Wed 19th Dec 2007

Dear Sir

Mr Parnell and other residents in Little Sandhurst have every reason to feel aggrieved at the growing lack of amenities in their area.

Deprived of adequate public transport, any community facilities, few shops and now the closure of its only post office, no wonder the residents feel so angry about this forgotten corner of Sandhurst.

What is much more surprising is that Little Sandhurst should be the home of the current Mayor of Bracknell Forest Borough Council and her husband, the Deputy Leader of the Council, as well as the Leader of the Council, Cllr Paul Bettison.

For years the Conservatives have dominated this part of Sandhurst and yet they have done very little to either maintain or improve the local infrastructure or the level of services. In a recent local Lib-Dem community survey, 64% of respondents said they wanted more community facilities and better local public transport services in the area.

Not surprisingly the Conservatives recently turned down a Lib-Dem suggestion that there should also be a polling station in the northern half of the ward. This would undoubtedly facilitate much higher turnouts at elections but quite clearly endanger the very comfortable majorities they have enjoyed in the past.

In a spirit of seasonal goodwill and cooperation might I suggest to Cllr Bettison and his colleagues that just for once they pay more than just 'lip service' to the need for an acceptable public transport system in the Borough and help First Bus to provide a better service by re-routing, for example, the 194 service along Longdown Road. It would also come as a considerable relief to many residents if the Council could be seen to be making a more determined attempt to resist the closure of the post office in the High Street.

Ray Earwicker

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

Bracknell Liberal Democrats