PRESS RELEASE

13 March 2003

OTTAWAY AND PELLING CALL ON PRESCOTT TO REVIEW CROYDON'S COUNCIL TAX SETTLEMENT

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, and Andrew Pelling, Leader of the Conservative Group on Croydon Council and London Assembly Member for Croydon and Sutton, will be presenting a Croydon Council Tax Petition to the Deputy Prime Minister on Monday 17th March. This petition protests at the 27% rise in Croydon's council tax.

Richard Ottaway says:-

"After years of mismanagement of Croydon's finances the people of Croydon are deeply concerned with this council tax rise. It will have a profound effect on their personal finances. Furthermore, it is going hand in hand with service cuts."

Andrew Pelling says:-

"Over 17,000 people have signed this petition in a very short space of time reflecting these concerns. It is right that the Deputy Prime Minister should be made aware of the strength of feeling in Croydon."

"In the light of this petition we call on the Deputy Prime Minister to review Croydon's local government finance settlement."

ENDS

Note to photographers: Photographers welcome. Richard Ottaway will arrive at the 8th Purley Scout Troop, St Mary's Church, Purley Oaks Road at 8pm on Friday 14th March. The Scout Hut is behind the Church Hall.

For further information please call 020 7219 6392.