BACK in 1972 the Tories brought in what they called “Fair Rents Act” which was to force councils to put up the rents every year a substantial amount whether they needed to or not. We on the Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen Council refused to implement the act.


Eventually the Tories brought in the commissioners and put the council into administration. I say to Councillor Anne Blackman, you were voted in at the last election to defend democracy, to advocate our responsibilities to the bureaucrats. It will not be just one commissioner, they will come in with droves of other people, and the cost will be tremendous.
Councillor Blackman, you will not be able to do the things you were elected for and that is to represent the people. I say to Tim Maddison who played a leading part in the ant-incineration programme many of your letters had an influence in the way the debate was conducted, a decision that was eventually arrived at and if you get your way and the council goes into administration you will have just one reply to all you letters and that is “noted”.
I say to everyone concerned, bringing in the commissioners and going into administration is a death wish for local democracy.
Councillor Ray Davies, Pandy Rd, Bedwas