Towcester will soon have the Lib Dems represented on South Northants Council’s Development Committee. Following the election of Liberal Democrats last week the Conservatives lose one place on the council’s committee that deals with planning issues.

This is good news for Towcester. Despite our town having the prospect of major development taking place, Towcester has been unrepresented on planning matters for a significant period.

Committee seats are allocated in proportion to the number of seats held by each political group. Last Thursday’s landslide result for the Liberal Democrats means the Conservatives lose two committee places to the Lib Dems and the Independents lose one place. Whilst planning is not party political, it has to be good for our town to have someone representing them who has local knowledge and is in tune with local people.

Councillor Chris Lofts commented: “Given the resounding message from Towcester last week, the town awaits a response from the Conservatives on their highly unpopular plans for moving the council’s offices. Conservatives claimed the by-election would be in part a referendum on their plans for building new council offices. Towcester people couldn’t have made their view more clear. They don’t want to see council offices moved from Springfields into the town centre.”