CAN I reassure Councillor Shannon that the “folly and land grab” he describes should not cost the district any more than it needs to if it is completed before the May 2015 election.

Parish councils pay for the parish elections. Should the decision be delayed until after May, then if successful a further election will have to be called.

Hagley Parish Council is mindful of these costs and submitted the request for a Community Governance Review in February 2014 – some 14 months before the election.

It is none of the parish’s doing that the item will not come before the district council until September.

Hagley Parish Council also saved the district the cost of carrying out most of its statutory duty by commissioning a feasibility study that mirrors the newly changed district boundary – a decision which was not required for a number of years.

I prefer to reflect that it is listening to the public and how they want to be governed and makes good sense.

A change in boundary makes parish precept better value for money, perhaps the town should become parished and give the people a real voice?

Steve Colella Hagley ward District Councillor and Chairman of Hagley Parish Council.