"Government should put local people first" - Julia Goldsworthy MP

12.00.00am GMT Mon 22nd Jan 2007

A Bill originally put forward by Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy that would help address the decline of Cornish towns and villages has passed its initial stages through Parliament.

The Sustainable Communities Bill, which aims to tackle the growing problem of Ghost Town Britain, received its second reading on Friday - its first step towards becoming law.

The Bill was first introduced by Julia as a Presentation Bill, and has support from over half the House of Commons, including every Liberal Democrat MP. A public meeting on the issue was attended by hundreds of people in Camborne, all of whom wanted a greater say over the decisions that affect their communities.

The issue was also raised at a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting in Redruth. Members raised their concerns about shop closures in the town - and the fact that there was no support available to help prevent these closures, while at the same time tens of thousands of pounds were being spent in the town on pavement and car park improvements. While the works have improved the aesthetics of the town, the town needs a viable retail centre to function - a point that Julia raised when she spoke in the debate.

According to Julia Goldsworthy, the Sustainable Communities Bill would allow people to have a greater say over how Local and Central Government money was spent in their areas - and to change priorities if they felt they were misguided.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy said:

"One of the reasons I am so proud to be Cornish is because we have such strong communities. But these communities are often undermined by the unintended consequences of Central Government decisions. The Bill aims to reverse this process and let the people decide instead. This Bill would allow local people to press for the changes they would like to see.

"We know what Local Government budgets are when they are set, but shockingly we have no idea what the total local budgets are for the work of various initiatives and unelected quangos - let alone whether they fit with local priorities. This Bill would change all that - which is why it received so much support at both the public meeting in Camborne last year and now in Parliament."