IT is amazing how the prospect of Cheshire West and Chester Council elections on May 5 has galvanised local Conservative councillors into action.

I refer to the full-page advertisement placed in a recent edition of the Northwich Guardian.

How delighted we all must be to know that Northwich is now a step closer to getting a makeover aimed at boosting the town’s economy.

Northwich taxpayers are footing the bill for this Tory advert in the guise of a council communiqué in these times of public spending cuts and economic hardship!

I think I’m getting a touch of déjà vue. In place of the Northwich Vision, dropped as soon as the CWAC unitary authority came into being on April 1, 2009, we now have the prospect of an Urban Design and Public Realm Strategy.

Four key improvement areas have apparently been identified to be developed (where are they?), among them the aim to ‘create street harmony through the introduction of high quality architecture’, to ‘animate the town centre by changing streets and spaces to encourage activity’ and to ‘create a positive and welcoming first impression of Northwich, announcing arrival at the town centre’. Perhaps an idiotic salt arch as suggested by a lower authority.

Surely one of the most obvious ways to animate the town centre and encourage activity would be to ensure that there was no threat of car parking charges being introduced in Northwich to the detriment of businesses and residents alike.

Who do they think they are kidding? It is simply unethical to slash and burn the spending we need only to reintroduce other spending that benefits the Conservatives rather than us.

Ask yourself one question, what is different about Northwich? Answer, nothing!

If you are satisfied with nothing, vote Tory, otherwise let’s get rid of them.

STEVE GOUGH North Drive, Rudheath