Waste of money

We are being asked to vote on a proposal for ‘tinkering’ with the way West Dorset District Council operates – this referendum is going to cost about £95,000 we are told and if there is a vote to change the governance, it is likely to cost tens of thousands of pounds to rewrite the constitution and implement.

This is a shocking waste of money at a time when many families are experiencing severe financial difficulties and funding for our valued public services is under pressure.To compound this waste of money, we hear that Local Government in Dorset is very likely to change in the next few years to possibly Unitary Authority or Authorities.

If this happens this referendum will be academic as it will only apply to West Dorset District Council, which will cease to exist as a sovereign Council within a Unitary Authority. Therefore, why vote to spend money on a change, which will not change the decision making and will only be in operation for a short time.

Who wants this referendum or is even aware of it at this moment in time? I suspect very few people Who understands what is being proposed by this referendum or why it is being called? Again, I suspect very few people.

We cannot stop the £95,000 being spent on the referendum but I sincerely hope that voters put a stop to any more being spent by voting NOT to change the current system.

Liz Godolphin

Charlton Down

Dorchester