THE pre-election publicity row that appears to have broken out between the two political parties that make up St Ives Town Council is just further evidence that membership of the council based on party political lines is not only of no benefit to a town l
THE pre-election publicity row that appears to have broken out between the two political parties that make up St Ives Town Council is just further evidence that membership of the council based on party political lines is not only of no benefit to a town like St Ives, but positively damaging.
Electing candidates based on political allegiance encourages cronyism, blind block voting by elected members and undue influence by the area political powers that be.
With the elections fast approaching, I hope that there are a sizable number of residents of our town with honesty, integrity, capacity and inclination who will stand as independents.
These would be independent candidates with the wellbeing of St Ives driving them on, rather than personal political ambition.
Their election would prevent, for example, the acutely embarrassing debacle that has been the present council's handling of the Corn Exchange over the past 18 months being repeated.
How refreshing it would be to have candidates to vote for who have the interests of St Ives genuinely at heart.
CHRIS LEWIS
Cromwell Place
St Ives
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