Letter: I Don’t Intend Political Tit-for-Tat

Published on: 26 Sep, 2021
Updated on: 26 Sep, 2021

From: Julie Iles

Former Conservative county councillor for The Horsleys

In response to: It Is Tory Planning That Should Concern Us

It is not my intention to write articles for The Guildford Dragon NEWS to make readers endure a tit for tat between political parties, especially with R4GV.

In Ms Davidson’s response, she suggests I’m involved in a concerted Conservative campaign but I am writing as a private citizen and a local resident at the invitation of the editor. Of course, I realise that he asked me because of my experience as a councillor and as someone who has worked in the central office of the Conservative party.

At his suggestion, once I have carried out some research, I will write my next piece on the likely impact of the appointment of Michael Gove (MP for Surrey Heath) as the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Ms Davidson also refers to “tawdry Conservative leaflets distributed in the summer – full of misinformation, misrepresentations and factual inaccuracies”. That’s a bit rich from an elected representative for R4GV whose leaflets in the run-up to the May elections were littered with just such misinformation, misrepresentations and factual inaccuracies.

I countered those in this article: County Hall Failures? Now Just Read the Facts

The history of the Guildford Local Plan is well known as is the part that the previous Conservative administration (and the Lib Dems) played in getting it through. My views are known but rehearsing it, again and again, does not achieve change.

The fact that Ms Davidson points out who is responsible for what on cycle routes, education and health services entirely supports my original point that there is no “joined-up” thinking and of course the underlying refrain is that nothing is the fault of Guildford Borough Council. As she now represents Guildford South East at Surrey County Council her own influence should be brought to bear on county council responsibilities.

Finally, to address the point about providing information. Throughout my term of office, I sent out an electronic monthly newsletter with details of roadworks, local events, dates of school place admissions and so on. This went to 900+ residents and many have commented on how much they miss these updates so I can only assume that the R4GV councillor now elected to this division does not engage with residents in similar fashion.

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