THERE have been suggestions from various quarters that Area Forums, already down to just two a year, should be scrapped altogether and the money saved added to the ‘Councillor’s Spending Money’ pots.

A further justification put forward would seem to be that some Area Forums are poorly attended.

An example of this is the Halliwell Forum in January where there were only three members of the public in attendance.

I would assert that the blame for this should be laid at the feet of ward councillors who have failed to encourage residents' participation in ward issues and to promote a community spirit.

Area forums are the one remaining opportunity where councillors can be held to account in public by the public other than at elections.

To remove these would further add to the anti-democratic moves surrounding the devolution of powers to the proposed ‘Elected Mayor’ and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

More and more decisions are being taken by fewer and fewer people further away from the town, in many instances behind closed doors. Increasingly, the first the public hears about them is in the press as in the case of the pooling of the regions Public Health cash.

There is inevitably a cost involved in holding Area Forums but the question has to be asked ‘What price democracy?’

In Little Lever and Darcy Lever, both Sean Hornby and myself positively encourage residents to come and have a go at us and should more UKIP councillors be elected in other wards next year, I can assure you that they would do the same.

Councillor Paul Richardson

Ripon Close

Little Lever