Wiltshire Council leader fumes as South West 'bottom of priority list'
Cllr Richard Clewer has been responding to the rejection of the Heart of Wessex mayoral proposal
After the Heart of Wessex proposal was rejected by Government, the Leader of Wiltshire Council says it appears Labour led areas were prioritised.
Cllr Richard Clewer told Greatest Hits Radio the rejection is a 'kick in the teeth' for the south west.
He said:"If you look at at a government investment, Wilshire and Dorset, we don't get it.
"We've achieved what we've achieved by avoiding government, not by being helped by government, and I think from a southwest point of view, it really is frustrating."
He told us that the Government had given 'incoherent' answers on why the proposal wasn't accepted, with the Treasury not being able to put forward enough money for all areas wanting to proceed to do so.
He added: "To be blunt, it looks as though areas that have more Labour MPs and Labour Councils are getting prioritised and that is shoddy. The government came in saying it wouldn't just govern for Labour, it would govern for everywhere."
The proposal could have handed local areas more power in decision making over transport, education and development.
Cllr Clewer said it was the opportunity to resolve some of Wiltshire's transport issues that convinced him to go ahead with the plans - despite having reservations.
He cited the A36 in Salisbury and the A303 tunnel project as two 'significant transport bottlenecks' that need a solution.
"But we're left sitting there for at least another two years from now desperately trying to persuade National highways from ever diminishing pots of money to try and find some for us, as all the funding will go off into the Mayoral areas," the Council Leader said.
The Government's announcement means local elections in Wiltshire will go ahead in May as anticipated.
Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government:
“Labour promised to give power to local leaders with skin in the game to determine the future of their communities. We’re making good on this promise by introducing the biggest mayoral devolution package in history.
“Devolution is key to delivering our Plan for Change which will drive growth, build 1.5 million homes and improve living standards across the country”