COUNCILLOR Alan Humphries – Labour councillor on the Droitwich Central ward – has followed with concern views expressed on the council’s recent debate over the damage to the mayor’s robes.

Whilst it is fair to say the report published was not completely accurate, this has clearly quite rightly raised concerns within Droitwich that he, as the elected Labour representative, would like to address on his behalf and the Droitwich Labour Party’s.

People will be aware that Droitwich Town Council currently has only one Labour representative on it and, as such, what can or cannot be achieved by us is limited.

However, this does not prevent us from challenging Conservative colleagues on the council when there is a need to challenge and making those challenges a matter of public record.

He wishes to assure not only the people that voted for him but all residents of Droitwich that he would never vote for a motion that would include the use of animal fur as this is abhorrent to him and nor will he, in these times of austerity for all, vote for the spending of some of the ridiculously high sums of money that were being suggested, and nor would he expect any of his Conservative colleagues on the council with a social conscience to do the same.

He is aware that the staff at the council have worked extremely hard under the leadership of the town clerk, Pam Craney, to keep costs on this project to a minimum, and that hard work and leadership should be applauded, however, the preferred option for both Cllr Humphries and the Droitwich Labour Party would be to see the use of the mayoral robes discontinued, with the mayoral chain being used on ceremonial occasions – whether this happens only time will tell.

Your local Labour Party is committed to listening to you and representing your views on the council when asked to do so.

If anyone wishes to discuss this matter with Cllr Humphries further, please feel free to stop him in the street, if you recognise him that is, or contact him through the details available on the council’s website.

Droitwich Labour Party