Bracknell councillors have been making their case to the government for more help with funding.

Mary Temperton, the only Labour councillor sitting on Bracknell Forest Council, signed an open letter along with more than thirty other councillors from across the country pleading with the government to stop cutting funds.

It read: “We call upon the government to recognise the catastrophic impact which eight years of uninterrupted austerity has had on local government.

“Local government is the primary provider of numerous essential services, which allow our country to operate on a day-to-day basis.

“It is the first port of call for children in need of care, for those facing homelessness and those fleeing domestic abuse and violence or caring for the elderly.

Speaking to the News about why she signed the letter, councillor Temperton said: “Bracknell Forest council has had to completely change the way the council works to save £20 million; moving from Easthampstead House into Time Square, making many redundant, changing the way the elderly are cared for, changing the way families and children are supported.

“The leisure centre, Coral Reef and Downshire Golf Club has been commissioned out to ‘Everyone Active’, Easthampstead Park conference Centre is now owned and run by ‘Active Hospitality’; libraries are dependent on volunteers to keep them open.

“It is more difficult to get a doctor’s appointment and we have food banks in Bracknell and Crowthorne….and we are one of the wealthiest boroughs in the country.”

Bracknell Forest Council has already been forced to make savings of more than £30m over the last five years due to a reduction in central government funding.

The News asked Conservative council leader Paul Bettison about whether he shared Cllr Temperton’s concerns.

He said: “I would always like more money.

“I stopped signing these letters when the Conservatives came back into government.

“There are ways of connecting with the government of the day if you can talk to them.

“Starting next Monday at the (Conservative) Party conference I will be representing Bracknell Forest Council and I will be promoting our interests.

“I want us to be part of a new business rates scheme so I want to talk to the relevant ministers (at the Conservative conference).

“I will be having meetings with senior politicians from across the Conservative Party.”