AT a recent meeting of Carrick district council, councillors voted for an increase in their allowances. For those councillors who have no special responsibilities, chairmanship of committees or membership of cabinet, the increase represents a rise of 5.9 per cent.

At a time of financial stringency and ever-increasing rises in council tax, with major implications for all households in Carrick, particularly for those on pensions, it is the firm view of the Conservative group on Carrick that these increases cannot be justified as a high priority for the expenditure of public money. The undersigned Conservative councillors will, consequently, refuse to accept the additional remuneration.

Pat Tyrrell, Tony Martin, Cherry Ager, Vic Rogers, John Hambly, Richard Bishop, Mike Varney, Luke Dunstone, Jim Currie, Chris Wells, John Dyer