IT is claimed that Eastleigh’s Lib Dem council is wrongly criticised over matters that are not its responsibility.

However, if it would only stop boasting about such matters, maybe us “idiots”, as so succinctly described, wouldn’t be misled.

For instance, the council borrows millions on various projects. Take the new Bursledon Community Hall.

It brags that it has supplied a doctors’ surgery there. It has also provided a library (when other councils are closing them) and staffed it with volunteers.

These things apparently are not actually its responsibility.

It has included in its local housing plans new schools and improved roads. The Botley “bypass” was promised in conjunction with the 2,200 houses to be built.

It also claims that the roadworks at the Hedge End Retail and Tourist Centre roundabout at Botley Road will be completed ahead of schedule via its influence.

Those nasty Hampshire road people must be told! It ignores the fact that it is Eastleigh council that keeps allowing the planning applications to be approved, leading to the horrendous traffic problems and road closures in the first place.

It doesn’t have control of the bus services, but it can choose to subsidise routes. So, what is its priority? It recently withdrew its subsidy that enabled the late night buses to run just two nights a week from central Southampton. Yet it chooses to borrow and spend millions on keeping the Hampshire Cricket Stadium project alive! We can thank it for providing a luxury hotel, posh spa, celebrity named restaurant and Barry Manilow!

So all of these things and more besides are not the business of the borough council. Only it is when it suits it to paint it that way. When the policy crumbles, as is the case re its Wessex House Office Block, now requiring the council to borrow £900,000 to repair its crumbling exterior, the impact is hidden.

I guess we really are the idiots, constantly allowing ourselves to be taken in by Lib Dem selfpraise, which at best can only be kindly described as spin.

MR J C MARTIN, Hedge End.