IT’S time for change and a fairer deal for rural Cheshire, says Weaver Vale’s would-be Tory MP.
Graham Evans is backing new Conservative policy proposals to protect rural services and kick-start the rural economy.
Mr Evans says a Tory win at the next General Election would end Labour’s centralisation tactics.
The new policy paper sets out proposals to end Labour’s ‘decade of disrespect’ for rural communities. They include plans to:
Scrap limits on surplus places so good schools in villages and small towns can thrive and new ones can open where parents, not Whitehall, want them.
Give councils new powers to give local business rate discounts so they can support local shops or put empty rural buildings back into use.
Support local post offices by allowing them to offer broader services and encourage ‘council counters’ in local branches.
Use spare money from the TV digital switchover to give remote areas better broadband coverage.
Ensure fairer funding for Cheshire West & Chester, and devolve down funding and powers held by distant regional quangos.
Mr Evans said: “We’ve suffered a decade of disrespect by Labour with local services scrapped, rural communities denied a say, and power taken away from them.
“We need to reverse Labour’s centralisation and interference from Whitehall bureaucrats, so Cheshire’s rural way of life across Cheshire is fully respected.
“Over the past decade the Government has shown itself to be deaf to the concerns of the countryside. Conservatives will ensure that Cheshire’s rural voice is heard loud and clear. We’ll protect our rural services and help revive our rural economy.”
