It’s well known that Somerset Council are in a very difficult position at the moment, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. They do, however, still have a public service to fulfil — Somerset residents still have to go about their daily business, and public services are vital to support them.
It’s disappointing, then, that the council seem to say all the right words — that they’re committed to decarbonisation and improving public health — but resources aren’t given to making these things happen.
Many of you may have seen this article published recently which highlights some of the issues that we and our counterparts across the whole county are facing now.
For a long while, we had a direct line of contact with the Active Travel Team at Somerset Council. Sarah Ellwood and her two colleagues met with us regularly to discuss active travel infrastructure projects in and around Bridgwater, and we were able to give them our support.
Some of you might remember way back in 2010 when David Cameron talked about the ‘Big Society’. He was trying to encourage the voluntary sector to support public services.
Since its inception, we have been very clear that BACC is a serious organisation. We are not simply a group with strong opinions about our cause. We have taken the time to assess the state of active travel infrastructure in and around our town thoroughly, and we’ve dedicated ourselves to learning the ins and outs of LTN 1/20 — the official government guidance on cycle infrastructure design.
So when we sit down at the table with Somerset Council, Bridgwater Town Council, or anyone else, we come to the discussion with a full breadth of both knowledge and experience, and we can support our public services competently. Instead, they would now prefer us to liaise with them via the Local Community Networks (LCNs). But we’re concerned that our voice may be lost among many others.
The council spokesman said, “Groups corresponding directly with individual officers to share complex information is not a practical, effective or fair way to garner opinion and plan well.”
We couldn’t disagree more.
At a time when government and public services are so under-resourced and overstretched, doesn’t it make even more sense to engage the voluntary sector? For us to work more closely, rather than at arm’s length?
