LIB DEM CANDIDATE CHALLENGES HIS OPPONENT TO GET OFF THE FENCE

5.41.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 30th Jul 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt today challenged his Conservative opponent, Harriett Baldwin to "get off the fence" over the proposed closure of Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre and the reduction of capacity at the Malvern Centre.

Mr Burt, who has campaigned to keep the centres open since the closure plans were announced, said:

"Public opposition to the closure of Llanrug and the scaling back of operations at Malvern has been overwhelming. Harriett Baldwin claimed that she was moving heaven and earth to persuade her Conservative County Councillor colleagues to save the centres, but she has remained silent since the closure decision was taken.

"Will she now come off the fence and back Liberal Democrat moves in the council chamber to get the decision reversed, or are protesters to assume that she now supports the decision of the Conservative controlled County Council?"

The Liberal Democrat Group on the County Council has mounted a strong rearguard action against the closure plans, calling in the decision for scrutiny by councillors next month to make recommendations back to full council in early October.