Opportunity for people to have their say (From Witney Gazette)

Opportunity for people to have their say

6:50am Wednesday 4th May 2011 in Leader

Tomorrow, residents across West Oxfordshire will go out to the polls.

It is an opportunity for people to have their say on the future make-up and of West Oxfordshire District Council and of town and parish councils across the district.

If residents are happy or unhappy with the current administration, they can voice that opinion. It has been said by many people many times, but democracy is what stands our society above others across the world.

It is easy to get complacent or disillusioned with politics, but we say: Put that to one side for a day, and go out and vote. And if everyone does, it will be a fascinating result.

We wonder whether people will vote on national or purely local issues.

If it is national, it will be interesting to see how the Liberal Democrats do, with much of their support put off by the national coalition with the Conservatives. Eynsham could be a particularly interesting for this, with the Lib Dem group leader at the district council, Richard Andrews, up for re-election.

And if people vote on local issues, we wonder whether the controversial Cogges Link Road will impact on votes in Witney.

Every party is against the scheme, except the Conservatives.

There will also be a fascinating race in Chipping Norton, where two candidates in their 20s will go up against each other.

And across West Oxfordshire, key members of the current Conservative administration are up for re-election, including leading cabinet members. Finally, hats off to the Green Party, which has fielded a candidate in every single district ward — the only non-Conservative party to do so. It is sad when people get in uncontested, because it means residents have not had their say, so we welcome the move.