Political row erupts at council

A political row erupted today between south Shropshire's Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders.

Tory boss Councillor Mrs Cecilia Motley hit out after Liberal Democrat ruler Councillor Mrs Heather Kidd launched an attack on her council.

Councillor Mrs Kidd accused the council's ruling Tories of burying their heads in the sand over plans for a unitary authority.

She said it had been wrong to pull out of unitary discussions with the county council after the May elections.

But Councillor Mrs Motley hit back at the accusation and said she had been working day and night to make sure locals got a fair deal.

She said: "We have to remember that a unitary authority was only one option proposed by the Government.

"The former Liberal Democrat administration had done no work with the other local authorities to explore the potential for the other option - enhanced two-tier working."

Councillor Mrs Motley said as soon as Tories were elected in May they established contact with the district and borough council leaders in Shropshire and had been meeting regularly ever since to explore co-operation through enhanced two tier.

She added it was a shame her efforts had been soured by criticism.