Bridgend

Protests make council back off

AROUND 25 young people protested this week outside Bridgend council offices against attacks on public services. The council wants to cut the schools budget, introduce more charges for disabled and elderly people needing help in their home, and effectively abolish free school transport in some areas.

The protest was part of an ongoing campaign which has already achieved some significant results. Our petitioning campaign has collected over 850 signatures.

At last week's annual budget meeting the Lib-Dem dominated cabinet was defeated in its plans. It tried to head off opposition by withdrawing some proposals at the last minute, but the "budget of a thousand cuts" was still voted down by worried councillors who feared punishment at the ballot box.

There are rumours that the council will back off completely from attacks on school transport where opposition, led by local Socialist Party members, is strongest. But campaigners, particularly active young people from Maesteg and Bridgend promise to fight to the end against cuts and privatisation.