Ludlow delegation to lobby Shropshire Council today

A full bus load of concerned residents is expected to depart from Smithfield Car Park at 8.30am accompanied by people travelling separately in cars.

When the Campaign for Fairness in Ludlow group arrives, protesters will stand outside Shire Hall waving their placards and lobby members of Shropshire Council as they arrive for a full council meeting that has a public session at the beginning of it.

They will then go inside and will be able to ask a question about the relationship between the council and the company ip&e that has been set up to deliver some of the services.

The Campaign for Fairness was established last year as a non-party political group to protest against issues such as local democracy and accountability. It works alongside, but is separate from, the ecumenical Churches Together Around Ludlow Group.

“There are some real issues about a company set up by the council delivering services,” said the Rev Neil Richardson, a member of the Campaign for Fairness in Ludlow.

“We believe that there are some very serious questions that need to be answered about accountability and transparency. People are extremely concerned about this issue."

The visit to Shire Hall has been organised by the group who also believe that Ludlow and south Shropshire is not getting a fair crack of the whip.

“It seems to me that Shropshire Council have a ‘down’ on Ludlow and the south of the county,” said Pat Hansen, speaking on behalf of the campaign group.

Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said while he accepted everybody has a democratic right to protest he felt some of the comments made by the group were misleading.

"We have met with Churches Together and other community groups in Ludlow even as recently as March 30 this year," said Mr Barrow.

“I also take issue with the accusation that our plans for ip&e were secretive and undemocratic.

"During the council elections in 2013, the Conservative manifesto was hand-delivered to households across Shropshire, and ip&e formed a large part of this.

"The elections saw Conservative candidates returned to form a large majority in the council and therefore it is our job to enact upon the promises made in the manifesto - this is what the public expect of us.”

Mrs Hansen said that examples of Ludlow not getting a fair deal included the decision of Shropshire Council to withdraw funding for the Ludlow Visitor Information Centre and move to a service run entirely by volunteers.

On top of this there is the taking over of part of Ludlow Library, including the gallery, to provide accommodation for staff working for Shropshire Council and also using the Ludlow Youth Centre to provide accommodation for staff.

The group is also unhappy at the support grant from central government that Shropshire Council has decided to retain instead of passing it on to town and parish councils.

This amounts to £34,000 that would have gone to Ludlow Town Council.

There is also an on-going controversy about major cuts to the Ludlow Museum Resource Centre where the plan was to cut three jobs, one of which has been given a temporary reprieve.

The group fears that one of the reasons why they believe Ludlow is getting the rough end of the stick is that the town is represented by three Liberal Democrat Councillors that have limited influence over the controlling Conservative Group.

“Our councillors appear to do a fine job as far as they can,” added the Rev Richardson.

The Campaign for Fairness has a programme of speakers who come to Ludlow to discuss topics of interest and concern.

Shropshire Council and its accountability was the subject of a recent meeting that was attended by more than 100 people at Ludlow Assembly Rooms.