David Harrison, Chairman of Totton & Eling Town Council, has challenged Westminster politicians to provide more power to local councils so that they can decide how to get the best value from taxpayers' money.

Totton & Eling Town Council, controlled by the Liberal Democrats for the past 20 years, is now spending in the region of £100,000 per year on facilities for the young people and children in the town, including the provision of 17 play areas, three paddling pools, The Garage Youth Club and support for the Streetwise Youth project, (a double-decker bus with youth workers that regularly visits Bartley Skatepark). None of the money is provided by central government.

Councillor Harrison says "Local people recognise the value of all these great facilities but it does impose a very unfair burden on Totton taxpayers. I would welcome more funding to come direct from central government, with no strings attached. We locally elected politicians can best spend the money wisely in a way that maximises value. It would be a great way of empowering local communities and to break away from central control".