LINDA Rickerby said (Mail, May 29) that Hartlepool voters are to blame for the chaotic decisions that Labour councillors have made in recent years.
She accused the voters of unthinkingly voting for Labour councillors simply because they were brought up to vote Labour.
Strong criticism indeed. But she is wrong to blame councillors. Mayor Drummond is the culprit.
He said recently in his wee
kly column that HE runs the town and has done so ever since he was elected six years ago.
He confirmed that councillors have no control over the decisions that he makes and that he is in sole charge.
Therefore he closed Rossmere pool, Eldon Grove centre and he ordered the demolition of Briarfields allotments, which later had to be reinstated at a cost to the council tax payers of £60,000.
Therefore he was responsible for the ghost ships problem and now the council tax payers will have to find up to £1m to compensate Able UK for the costs they have had to incur.
Therefore since he was elected in 2002 he has allowed 2,300 council employees to be either overpaid or underpaid.
This situation now has to be put right and the wage bill is set to increase by between £2.7m and £4.7m each year until 2011.
As he was in sole charge he should explain why he permitted 2,300 council employees to be wrongly paid since he was elected six years ago. This is big money. At least £10m in back wages and maybe £1m for Able.
Will the electors vote for Mayor Drummond when he stands for re-election?
Mike Ludgate,
Waterside Way,
Hartlepool.
The full article contains 280 words and appears in Hartlepool Mail newspaper.
