Plans by the Liberal Democrat controlled Cornwall county council to launch a community newspaper in 2007, at a time when council tax is going through the roof and front-line services are being axed, are an utter disgrace. According to the council the free newspaper, which will be delivered to 240,000 homes and cost £337,000-a-year to produce, "could" save up to £300,000-a-year on local job adverts and public notices.

The council says it spends around £678,000-a-year on local newspaper advertising and public notices on such subjects as planning applications and road closures. But this money is spent across paid-for newspapers which do not reach every household in Cornwall, says the council's web site, from which I quote: "But this suggestion isn't only about saving money. Residents in Cornwall have told us that the council's communications are weak, and focus groups have asked why we do not communicate directly with the public rather than waiting for the media to ask us to comment."

County councillor Eric Brooke is quoted as saying: "I would like to see a lively question and answer page, where politicians and senior officers are held to account." Does he not read the existing local papers? Isn't that what they already offer? The only trouble is, nobody from the county council ever bothers to respond to the questions posed regularly on the local letters pages.

Any suggestion that launching a newspaper will actually save the council money is too ridiculous for words. This will be a propaganda sheet used for the sole purpose of massaging the egos of councillors and it will end-up costing taxpayers a fortune. It will be produced by lickspittle officers who will keep their political masters happy by publishing lots of flattering articles and pictures saying how marvellous they all are and it will end up in the waste bins of angry local taxpayers, along with all the other junk mail posted each week through their letter boxes.

Cornwall has dozens of newspapers already, particularly free ones. Yet, on its own admission, the council's advertising budget is spent in a handful of traditional paid-for papers. If the council wants to save money on advertising, why doesn't it invite all existing local publishers to tender for the advertising service. I bet this would produce a massive saving overnight.

And if the council wants better communication with taxpayers, why doesn't it respond to local press criticism? I've written several letters to the local press over the past 12 months questioning council decisions but have never seen a reply. The council has a press office so why doesn't it make better use of this facility to engage with local taxpayers?

I hope independent and Conservative county councillors will fight these ridiculous plans tooth and nail. Hopefully they will be be able persuade enough Liberal Democrats to see sense and oppose their leadership.

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