I WOULD like to applaud the decision of Godmanchester Town Council in not taking on the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of the public toilets. We should be asking ourselves why the district council was willing to give away the buildings

I WOULD like to applaud the decision of Godmanchester Town Council in not taking on the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of the public toilets.

We should be asking ourselves why the district council was willing to give away the buildings and their contents if it was only costing �9,000 a year to clean - what about maintenance, periodic up-grades and vandalism costs?

The real reason is that the district council needs to reduce its overall budget and one way is to make the town councils increase there rate precepts. Thus HDC appears to have reduced its overall costs but in effect it is passing them on to town councils.

I do hope that Godmanchester Town Council also refuses to take on any revenue costs of play facilities which the district council now wants them to fund.

It does appear that the philosophy being adopted by the district is to get all 'local facilities' funded directly by town councils. If that is the case should we not go back to 1960s and have our own borough council and provide and manage all our own services directly?

No need to have a district council then!

MIKE GILLLETT

Bergamont Close

Godmanchester