During the Conservative party conference, the government’s 13 years of cuts to local government budgets were not discussed. However, these budget cuts have had a devastating impact on local services and communities.
Richard Partington (As Britain’s town hall services crumble, the case for reform is overwhelming, 1 October) rightly argues that the crisis extends beyond Birmingham and the few local authorities facing bankruptcy. In my own area, which was once known for its high performing local government, we have experienced a budget cut of almost 45% since 2012, leaving us near the bottom in rankings.
Austerity is not just a financial issue; it causes pain and distress to millions of vulnerable people and diminishes the overall quality of community life. The true cost of these government cuts can be seen in the lack of social care for the elderly and vulnerable, the closure of children’s centers, swimming pools, and libraries, the deterioration of recreational spaces like parks and playgrounds, and the loss of financial support for activities that strengthen local communities. This extensive list is a clear indictment of this neglectful government and should have been highlighted during the conference in Manchester this week.
Peter Riddle
Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Keywords: government cuts, local services, local communities, austerity, social care, vulnerable people, budget cut, neglectful government.
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