WE write to you regarding a matter of great concern to the future of Lancashire.
In October there will be a referendum on whether to create a North West Assembly. But the proposals are fundamentally flawed and potentially disastrous.
Three warning lights shine most brightly: cost, power and democracy.
The estimated cost of setting up the Assembly is £30million with yearly running costs of £25million. But can we trust these figures?
The one irrefutable fact learnt from devolution in Scotland, Wales and London is that costs exceed estimates.
Worryingly the North West Assembly's running costs will be met by increases in council tax. We believe council tax bills will face fresh hikes when running costs outstrip estimates.
Families in Lancashire, Cumbria and Cheshire will be hit with a double whammy. Firstly their council tax bills will rise to pay the Assembly's running costs. Secondly there is the cost of scrapping their county council and district councils to make way for the Assembly.
Despite its enormous cost the Assembly would have nothing like the powers of the Scottish Parliament or Welsh Assembly.
It would have no power over public services.
It would be unable to provide a single extra nurse, doctor, teacher or police officer. And it would be impotent to build or upgrade a single road, bypass, motorway or bridge.
Moreover it could not give a penny to airports, buses or ferries.
To put this lack of power in context, the Assembly would control less than one per cent of government expenditure in the region.
Furthermore, the Assembly would be a body blow to local democracy. The proposed 35 Assembly members would replace up to 500 local councillors who would be axed.
Each Assembly member would then be responsible for an utterly unmanageable 230,000 people. How can that improve local democracy when MPs represent around 89,000 people and our councillors around 4,500 people?
And if the Assembly is based in Manchester how is that improving local democracy for Lancashire? Moreover, Lancashire would have little influence on the Assembly, having just two of the 35 AMs.
This is the pathetic, deeply flawed reality of devolution in our region. We urge you to join us and vote NO to a North West Assembly in October.
Sir David Trippier, Chairman North West Says No Campaign; Sir Cyril Smith, vice-chairman Lib Dem; Geraldine Smith MP, Morecambe and Lunsdale Labour; George Osborne MP, vice-chairman Tatton Conservative.
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