CHEAPER, closer and purpose-built – three qualities on the wish list of any sensible firm looking to acquire new premises.

CHEAPER, closer and purpose-built - three qualities on the wish list of any sensible firm looking to acquire new premises.

That's exactly what's now on offer for North Somerset Council, after two firms came forward and offered to build new offices for the authority in Weston.

They've made the offer in a bid to halt the council's harebrained plot to uproot 750 Weston jobs and move them to Clevedon.

These firms fear for the future of the town and its economy, and say they can provide offices to the council's own specifications for less than the �16million North Somerset is preparing to shell out on the former Clerical Medical office block.

So although council bosses have insisted the plan is financially prudent, it turns out it's not the cheapest option after all - not quite such a 'no-brainer' after all, is it?

Consolidation is the smartest option, the council tells us, because it will save money - but surely consolidation at a cheaper, purpose-built HQ will save even more?

This decision - probably the most important one this council has faced - is now just five days away.

On Tuesday, council members will be asked to vote on this �16million outlay and the plan to strip 750 jobs from the town.

They will be asked to make their decision even though other - cheaper and potentially better - options have not been explored.

They will be asked to make their decision even though council leader Nigel Ashton insists the council has 'no idea' how many people will work there.

And they will be asked to make their decision even though most of them have been kept in the dark about the details of the idea by the Conservative elite.

How can anyone be expected to such a vital decision after being offered such a paucity of detail?

No company in the world would sanction such a vast outlay without working out the finer details. The 'no idea' argument simply doesn't hold water.

So why have council leaders kept the whole plan shrouded in secrecy? Don't they have faith in their own idea?

Asking their own councillors to make this decision without first revealing the details is an affront to democracy.

We hope Weston's Tory members have the mettle and backbone to fight to protect the town they were elected to represent.