In this article (‘Savings must be found to close Essex County Council £46m gap’) the leader of Essex County Council claims that as ‘an organisation, we have taken great strides over the last ten years, investing in Essex to benefit the communities and businesses that call the county home’.

I would simply ask where is the evidence of this in Loughton and Epping Forest?

All I have witnessed over the last ten years as an elected representative is cut back after cut back and the continued delivery of poor services.

My evidence for this opinion would include:

1. The appalling state of our roads and pavements.

2. The retraction in our family centres.

3. The closure of Epping Forest Sure Start due to their loss of Essex County Council funding.

4. The retraction in the library service throughout Epping Forest and the current threats hanging over Loughton and Debden libraries.

5. The curtailment of our 167 bus service, no longer running between Loughton Station and Debden Station directly due to the loss of any Essex County Council support.

6. The withdrawal of much of the directly provided youth service provision to a more enabling role.

How can any of the above be accurately described as investing in our local community, when in reality it has been a record of doing exactly the opposite.

Now they are planning a further series of cutbacks totalling £46 million but won’t tell us where the axe will fall.

Stephen Murray

Loughton Roding Ward

Independent District and Town Councillor