Ealing cut environmental services but spend £5.5m on new carpark

Local Lib Dem Councillors had their proposals to save six Park Rangers, four Enviro-crime officers and two Libraries turned down by Ealing Council who will spend the £5.5 million on a car park in Southall.

Southfield Councillor Andrew Steed said: “The Liberal Democrats put forward an amendment to protect front-line jobs that the Labour party decided to cut.

"The Park Rangers and Enviro-crime Officers will help ensure that our parks and streets are cleaner and safer.

"Quite simply it is a question of whether you want a car park that no-one seems to want to use, or Park Rangers that really look after our parks.”

Over the next three years £55m will be cut from Ealing Council's budget with a further £22.4m trimmed in 2011-12, bringing expenditure to £275m.

300 jobs will go and more are expected to be lost but the Labour-run council claims 119 new positions are being created.

Council tax bills will be frozen the third year running.

March 3, 2011