Pickles under pressure to curb cuts to Hampshire council

By Rebecca Pearson

COUNTY councillors from all parties have formed a united front to fight for a better deal for Hampshire.

They will send a cross-party letter urging local government secretary Eric Pickles to stop cutting the authoritys funding.

Councillors fear further cuts could damage frontline services, including safeguarding some of the countys most vulnerable children and adults.

The authority has lost 51 per cent of its Government funding in the last six years.

As previously reported, library funding has been slashed, neighbourhood wardens axed, bus subsidies removed and hundreds of council jobs lost.

Funding has also been stopped for gardening and handyman services at sheltered accommodation and frail pensioners' homes.

Hampshire County Council's Winchester headquarters

Hampshire is bracing itself for a further 100 million in cuts that are likely to come into effect after 2017.

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Pickles under pressure to curb cuts to Hampshire council