Tessa meets Prime Minister to discuss issues in rural Somerset (Wells Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Wells Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@wellslibdems.org.uk>

Tessa meets Prime Minister to discuss issues in rural Somerset

January 17, 2012 2:03 PM

Tessa and PM Local MP Tessa Munt met with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, in Number 10 Downing Street on Monday afternoon to discuss the challenges faced by residents and businesses in rural Somerset.

Tessa asked the Prime Minister to consider what the Government might do to address concerns about many aspects of life in rural Somerset - the high cost of housing and the lack of affordable homes in anywhere except the major towns and cities, the difficulties in getting full-time, longer term employment rather than a patchwork of part-time and seasonal jobs, the problems of getting a choice in healthcare and education as the nearest services are in reality the only services on offer, and the fact that due to the unfair formula for funding rural local authorities, rural residents pay Council Tax which is on average £100 more than those living in cities, but often have to travel many miles to access the very services for which they pay through their taxes.

Tessa focussed particularly on the lack of rural public transport, which is crucial for both young and old in providing a lifeline for those without the use of a car to reach centres with shops, libraries, pubs, Post Offices, leisure centres and a multitude of support services all funded by taxpayers and which should be available to all, not just those living and working in more urban areas.

Tessa said "The lack of affordable public transport in the countryside could ultimately threaten the ability of villages and our smaller tows to survive, and therefore cannot be ignored. I've always thought that as well as taxpayers funding our senior citizens' bus passes, we should do the same for those who are 18 and younger. That seems only fair - particularly as from 2013 and 2015, young people will have to stay in education or educational training."

Whilst in David Cameron's office, I asked the Prime Minister to remember that the priority of the Members of the Youth Parliament for 2012 was affordable and accessible public transport - which they debated and voted upon in our Chamber in the House of Commons in October 2011.

Tessa finished ''The Prime Minister is aware of the inequity of funding formulae and seemed open to the possibility of reviewing this to reflect the sparsity, hidden deprivation and extra expense that comes from living in rural areas. I look forward to seeing what is proposed to make the system fairer for those of us who live in the countryside.''