Hundreds of Borderers have already signed an online petition which seeks to quash plans to merge the region's local government and health services into a single public authority.
Meanwhile it is reported a poll organised by Jedburgh Community Council has shown 84% of townspeople against the proposed amalgamation of Scottish Borders Council and NHS Borders.
The recently launched petition on the Change.org website was launched by Robbie Pennington, from Kelso, who worked as a charge nurse and ward manager for NHS Borders. It had attracted 397 signatories by today (Friday).
Mr Pennington's petition, headed Preserve the independence of NHS Borders warns against the plan dreamed up by SBC by stating:
"The culture and values of NHS Borders are very different from those of a local authority. It is those values that put patients first and that are vital to providing responsive, timely and appropriate care. These values would be destroyed by a merger with Scottish Borders Council. The proposed merger of SBC and NHS Borders could literally cost you your health."
A number of local people are already convinced the "madcap and stupid" idea will never take root. Some of the comments posted on the petition's web page ridicule the council, alleging for example "they couldn't run a bath".
But others warn against complacency and are urging many more opponents of the merger to get involved in the campaign to stop it. None of the local politicians appear to have made up their minds after the Tory group on the council unanimously backed the move.
The strength of support for the petition within the last few days has been remarkable compared to some similar protests in other parts of the country when amalgamation of authorities was on the cards.
A Conservative MP for a rural constituency in Somerset - he was raised in the Scottish Borders - has experienced local opposition to the merger of two councils on his patch and even backed the protesters. But the coupling of Taunton Deane and West Somerset Councils is proceeding after receiving the go-ahead from his own Tory UK Government.
Ian Liddell-Grainger, who reprsents Bridgwater & West Somerset in the Commons, is the son of an aristocratic family from Berwickshire. He managed a 250-acre farm in the Scottish Borders from 1980 to 1985 before moving to pastures new.
The west country petition he backed was entitled 'Halt Taunton Deane District Council taking over West Somerset District Council.'
it argued the obliteration of West Somerset Council would reduce electoral representation, centralise services in the more prosperous and more urbanised Taunton Deane and distance people in West Somerset from the delivery of services by making those delivering the services less accountable.
It added: "The proposed merger was based on a deficit accumulated by West Somerset. The deficit, that is forecast to drop dramatically, is not surprising given West Somerset's relative deprivation and the unfair distribution of the rural grant that pays a city like Bristol more per head in than the deeply rural and under populated West Somerset."
Mr Liddell-Grainger, usually forthright in his views, wrote in his blog: "If you agree that this [the merger] is an unnecessary step which will undermine local democracy then please sign the petition." But only 236 signatures were collected mainly due to local apathy, it was claimed.
Then in May 2018 the straight speaking MP outlined a scenario which even trumped the shortcomings of Scottish Borders local government.
This time he told his constituents: " Local government in Somerset is in a period of extraordinary upheaval. Taunton Deane and West Somerset may become one new council if the Government pass the necessary regulations in time. Somerset County Council could vanish altogether to be replaced by a giant Unitary authority which could easily absorb both Taunton and West Somerset. I have serious doubts about all these scenarios. Taunton Deane is badly strapped for cash. Somerset County Council is frankly flat broke.
"The County’s Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Nacey, has already resigned and will abandon the sinking ship shortly. He’s off to a new job. The sort of job for which life at Somerset County has made him uniquely qualified. Mr Nacey will soon be based not in Taunton but down in Devon, sunny Sidmouth. He is to serve his last few professional years as the new Finance Director of….wait for it…..The Donkey Sanctuary! You couldn’t make it up!!"
A clearly exasperated Mr Liddell-Grainger was at it again in August following confirmation of the council merger.
"I am delighted to learn that the new West Somerset and Taunton Council will be “Championing People, Place and Prosperity” – whatever on earth that means. I am equally thrilled to discover that employees of this “World Changing” council will soon be offering services “delivered by empowered and flourishing individuals….creating exceptional customer experiences….through brilliant performance and intuitive ways of working.”
Those passages outlining Somerset's brave new world of local government could have been lifted from many a Scottish Borders Council policy document.
According to Mr Liddell-Grainger: "Writing drivel of this kind is clearly a specialist occupation. Some highly placed bod in the Shadow Executive has spent tens of thousands of pounds of public money buying a load of verbal detritus. I wish no disrespect to those who are able to hold on to their jobs. Well over a quarter will cease to have employment when the merger takes place. Many have already applied for redundancy.
"Those who remain will be expected to work like slaves in order to provide barely adequate services. They are extremely unlikely to have the time to create “exceptional customer experiences”. Most customers will have to deal with their new council by clicking on a computer. As Winston might have put it: “Rarely in the field of Council conflab has so much bullshit been written about so few.”
Perhaps the Somerset experience provides lessons for the campaigners now determined to keep SBC away from hospital services, primary care and other health specialities. One thing is certain...there is no room for complacency.
A number of local people are already convinced the "madcap and stupid" idea will never take root. Some of the comments posted on the petition's web page ridicule the council, alleging for example "they couldn't run a bath".
But others warn against complacency and are urging many more opponents of the merger to get involved in the campaign to stop it. None of the local politicians appear to have made up their minds after the Tory group on the council unanimously backed the move.
The strength of support for the petition within the last few days has been remarkable compared to some similar protests in other parts of the country when amalgamation of authorities was on the cards.
A Conservative MP for a rural constituency in Somerset - he was raised in the Scottish Borders - has experienced local opposition to the merger of two councils on his patch and even backed the protesters. But the coupling of Taunton Deane and West Somerset Councils is proceeding after receiving the go-ahead from his own Tory UK Government.
Ian Liddell-Grainger, who reprsents Bridgwater & West Somerset in the Commons, is the son of an aristocratic family from Berwickshire. He managed a 250-acre farm in the Scottish Borders from 1980 to 1985 before moving to pastures new.
The west country petition he backed was entitled 'Halt Taunton Deane District Council taking over West Somerset District Council.'
it argued the obliteration of West Somerset Council would reduce electoral representation, centralise services in the more prosperous and more urbanised Taunton Deane and distance people in West Somerset from the delivery of services by making those delivering the services less accountable.
It added: "The proposed merger was based on a deficit accumulated by West Somerset. The deficit, that is forecast to drop dramatically, is not surprising given West Somerset's relative deprivation and the unfair distribution of the rural grant that pays a city like Bristol more per head in than the deeply rural and under populated West Somerset."
Mr Liddell-Grainger, usually forthright in his views, wrote in his blog: "If you agree that this [the merger] is an unnecessary step which will undermine local democracy then please sign the petition." But only 236 signatures were collected mainly due to local apathy, it was claimed.
Then in May 2018 the straight speaking MP outlined a scenario which even trumped the shortcomings of Scottish Borders local government.
This time he told his constituents: " Local government in Somerset is in a period of extraordinary upheaval. Taunton Deane and West Somerset may become one new council if the Government pass the necessary regulations in time. Somerset County Council could vanish altogether to be replaced by a giant Unitary authority which could easily absorb both Taunton and West Somerset. I have serious doubts about all these scenarios. Taunton Deane is badly strapped for cash. Somerset County Council is frankly flat broke.
"The County’s Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Nacey, has already resigned and will abandon the sinking ship shortly. He’s off to a new job. The sort of job for which life at Somerset County has made him uniquely qualified. Mr Nacey will soon be based not in Taunton but down in Devon, sunny Sidmouth. He is to serve his last few professional years as the new Finance Director of….wait for it…..The Donkey Sanctuary! You couldn’t make it up!!"
A clearly exasperated Mr Liddell-Grainger was at it again in August following confirmation of the council merger.
"I am delighted to learn that the new West Somerset and Taunton Council will be “Championing People, Place and Prosperity” – whatever on earth that means. I am equally thrilled to discover that employees of this “World Changing” council will soon be offering services “delivered by empowered and flourishing individuals….creating exceptional customer experiences….through brilliant performance and intuitive ways of working.”
Those passages outlining Somerset's brave new world of local government could have been lifted from many a Scottish Borders Council policy document.
According to Mr Liddell-Grainger: "Writing drivel of this kind is clearly a specialist occupation. Some highly placed bod in the Shadow Executive has spent tens of thousands of pounds of public money buying a load of verbal detritus. I wish no disrespect to those who are able to hold on to their jobs. Well over a quarter will cease to have employment when the merger takes place. Many have already applied for redundancy.
"Those who remain will be expected to work like slaves in order to provide barely adequate services. They are extremely unlikely to have the time to create “exceptional customer experiences”. Most customers will have to deal with their new council by clicking on a computer. As Winston might have put it: “Rarely in the field of Council conflab has so much bullshit been written about so few.”
Perhaps the Somerset experience provides lessons for the campaigners now determined to keep SBC away from hospital services, primary care and other health specialities. One thing is certain...there is no room for complacency.
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