Sir - In his letter of January 4, Ed Morris lists several reasons why we need new blood on Witney Town Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
I would like to add to his long list of mismanaged issues one which has affected many of us in Charlbury, Chipping Norton and the surrounding villages, and that is the closure of Dean Pit recycling centre, in the face of strong public opposition.
Before Dean Pit closed, nearly 2000 people signed a petition asking Oxfordshire County Council to reverse the decision, which they refused to consider.
The opposition was spearheaded by West Oxfordshire Cllrs Glena Chadwick (Lib Dem) and Eve Coles (Labour), who worked very hard to demonstrate not only that the closure would seriously inconvenience residents and cost them a lot of money in extra car journeys, but that there was absolutely no good reason for closing the site.
West Oxfordshire Cabinet members, sensing the public mood, promised last August to investigate an alternative site at Greystones in Chipping Norton.
A report was due to be presented at the Cabinet meeting either in December or January, but so far has not made it onto the agenda.
Meanwhile, the new recycling centre at Kidlington that was promised for April has been delayed and the Oxfordshire County Council website now states "we are hoping that the facility will be open by the end of 2012."
We desperately need more councillors like Mrs Chadwick and Mrs Coles, people who are prepared to stand up for those they represent in the face of what is too often a dismissive attitude on the part of the ruling Conservative party, and who will hold the Conservatives to account over their promises.
The Lib Dems, Labour and the Greens put up candidates in most wards at every election and candidates often fail to win the seat by a very small margin.
It will not take much to alter the balance on our local councils - just a recognition that it really is time for a change.
Liz Leffman Park Street Charlbury (Full wording off letter first published in January 18)
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