THIS week, North Somerset councillors are due to decide whether or not to go ahead with their plan to buy the Castlewood office building in Clevedon for around �16million.

THIS week, North Somerset councillors are due to decide whether or not to go ahead with their plan to buy the Castlewood office building in Clevedon for around �16million.

The plan, hatched by the out-town dominated and increasingly anti-Weston Conservative executive, could see more than 700 jobs lost in our town. Worse, it would send a message that even the council isn't prepared to invest in Weston.

It is not often that an issue arises that could have such a devastating long-term impact on Weston. Our elected councillors have a solemn duty to do the right thing and stand up for our town.

I hope that politicians from all parties can put aside petty party politics, think about the facts and listen to the views of local people. Only if councillors have the guts to defy their party whips can this �16million folly be stopped in its tracks.

I would urge all your readers to make a last minute plea to their own local councillors to vote against this plan - and offer this simple warning to councillors, we will all be watching you.

MIKE BELL

Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Weston