Letter: Taxes Are Rarely Ring-Fenced

Published on: 24 Apr, 2026
Updated on: 24 Apr, 2026

The debt is variously calculated to represent £15,000 to £19,000 for each household in West Surrey.

From Angela Richardson

Former Conservative MP for Guildford

In response to: The Legacy Debt Should Be Borne By Those Who Created This Sorry Mess

In a small way, Woking residents have taken on a share of the burden with a 10 per cent tax rise last year. There have also been additional steps taken locally to deal with debt.

We often believe that taxes are ring-fenced for specific purposes, like we have had the tax we personally paid put aside for our pension, when this doesn’t happen in practice.

I hoped that the author’s tongue was firmly in cheek when he asked if GBC would try and put through funding for the Leisure Centre in Guildford, like Waverley is trying to do for Cranleigh, which would tie the hands of the future West Surrey Council. I have enormous respect for his experience, but he can’t have it both ways. Should only Guildford residents pay for a Leisure Centre upgrade or all of West Surrey?

I do agree that these elections are more important than most residents perhaps give them credit for at this moment in time with so many other things going on. I will personally be disappointed with a low turnout. Please vote.

Local authorities can often make more meaningful difference than even the most engaged MP who has convening powers. Those in power locally are certainly in charge of significant budgets and those budgets influence the quality of our every day lives. Just ask those in Birmingham or Brighton who have had piles of refuse and rats to contend with.

Experience and shared values for our community will matter a great deal. Protest voting will make our important county much poorer and less influential.