LIB DEMS CALL FOR UNITED FRONT OVER BYPASS

10.11.31am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 20th Aug 2007

Councillor Steve Darling, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Torbay Council, has written to the leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Carroll urging the Conservatives to show a united front over the proposed South Devon Link Road (or Kingskerswell bypass).

His letter is in response to comments made by the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Teignbridge Anne Marie who argues against the bypass in her blog.

Councillor Steve Darling's letter says:

"Please find attached an entry from the Conservative candidate for Teignbridge Anne Marie's blog. I have highlighted some very negative comments that she has made about the South Devon Link Road.

I gather that her comments on her blog were a reaction to a report in the local paper recently where the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Torbay suggested that increased housing would be built alongside the South Devon Link Road.

The South Devon Link Road is an issue where there is cross party agreement amongst the 3 MPs for South Devon, Devon County Council and Torbay Council. I find it shocking that that one of your Conservative Parliamentary Candidates is breaking ranks for apparent short-term political gain.

I hope that you will be arranging a meeting with Anne Marie to appraise her of the real need that there is for the South Devon Link Road."

Councillor Steve Darling said: "In his column in the local paper today, the Conservative elected mayor argues in favour of the bypass - yet in neighbouring Teignbridge the local Conservative candidate is arguing the case against it. Decision-makers in Westminster who will be providing the majority of the funding for the new road will be singularly unimpressed by this disagreement. For the road to happen there needs to be a united front. In the past there has general cross party support for the road, with the 3 MP's for South Devon and Devon County Council and Torbay Council in favour. With the elected Mayor away on holiday, I have asked his Deputy Cllr Carroll to hold an urgent meeting with the Conservative candidate for Teignbridge to appraise her of the real need for this road."