Huge rise in Torbay councillors allowances a big mistake says Totnes Liberal Democrat

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 29th Nov 2003

Totnes Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Mike Treleaven, today spoke out against the large rises in allowances that Torbay councillors have awarded themselves. Speaking after Thursday's controversial vote when rises of up to 60% were passed he said:

' I am extremely upset that these rises have been approved at this time. We live in an area of low wages and with some areas of great deprivation. I think it is very insensitive of councillors to take this decision which is not supported by the public and detracts from the excellent work being done by the Liberal Democrat Council. I am also saddened that the decision has caused the resignation of a long serving and hard working member of the Council, Steve Darling, who has worked extremely hard for the good of the people of Torbay over the last 10 years.'

He continued:

' I hope that councillors will sit back, think about what they have done and come to realise that a mistake has been made. Each councillor should think long and hard before claiming the extra entitlement.'