CHESTER Conservatives are frustrated they look likely to be shut out in the cold even though they are now the second largest party on the city council.

The group, which has 20 council seats compared to the Lib Dem's 22, knocked Labour's 17-strong group into third place in last week's local elections.

But Tory leader Margaret Parker knows the likelihood is the Liberals and Labour will join forces to form a joint administration which she admitted was 'extremely frustrating'.

The Conservatives have written to their rivals saying that they are prepared to work with either or both providing they agree to certain conditions.

In a letter to Labour leader Cllr John Price and his Lib Dem counterpart Cllr David Evans, key elements of the secret proposals, seen by The Chronicle, include: Halting the building of the £15m city council headquarters dubbed 'the glass slug' at Gorse Stacks An investigation of alternatives to the 'glass slug' which would allow the Northgate Development scheme to go ahead and investigate savings to develop an improved performing arts centre and market. The prevention of the sale of the city council car park behind the Northgate Arena to West Cheshire College. Reducing city centre car parking charges to attract residents and visitors back into Chester. Cutting the Council Tax burden for vulnerable groups like pensioners. Provision of free bus travel for the over-60s. Addressing the situation whereby parish areas pay twice for the same council services - known as double-rating

Speaking at a press conference, Cllr Parker said: 'We now have the second largest party on the city council and today I have written to the leaders of the two other groups stating that we would be willing to work with both or either of them for the good of the electorate who have given us 35% of the vote.'

Cllr Parker said Labour and Liberals had been falling out so much she could not envisage how they could possibly work together in the old way.

'There has been in-fighting and if they are working a coalition they should be working together,' she said.

The Tory leader believes her party's decision to oppose the 'glass slug' had helped them win the City and St Anne's ward from Labour.

But she stressed: 'As a group we are not opposed to the Northgate Development.'

On the proposal of using Northgate Arena car park as the site for West Cheshire College, she added: 'We want to stop development of that car parking.'

Labour leader Cllr Price told The Chronicle he expected the Lib-Lab pact to continue. Speaking immediately after last Thursday's elections, he said: 'The existing protocol is that the largest single party retains an arrangement with us. They retain the leadership and the other half retains the deputy.

Council leader Cllr David Evans refused to comment.