If you thought the idea of 'Regional Assemblies' had disappeared after the North East's 'No' vote last year then prepare yourself, for not only is the 'South West Regional Assembly' alive and kicking, as Tobias witnessed at its meeting last Friday, it also has real power.

Just as power has gradually slipped away from Westminster to Brussels, the SW Regional Assembly has accumulated responsibilities from local Councils and has just flexed its muscles 'telling' Bournemouth Poole and Christchurch to build 2,100 homes a year for the next 10 years. At the same time, in the north of England over 400,000 houses are being torn down. Building so many new homes a year will cripple our already challenged road and transport network and change the very character of the area.

No one directly voted for this Assembly. Membership is made up of councillors from various councils across the region, as well as from non-elected bodies such as Trade Unions. It is supported by an army of civil servants costing tax payers in the South West around £4m a year.

Bournemouth is represented by a Lib Dem Councillor, who, like Labour is fully supportive of this unnecessary and largely unaccountable tier of costly red tape. I believe these housing targets and the Assembly should be abolished. We should be doing more to return powers back to local councils and not supporting another layer of bureaucracy no one asked for.

Targets for Bournemouth
Despite sitting on the SW Regional Assembly, the Lib Dems have done little to prevent this non-elected body from 'telling' Bournemouth to build around 20,000 more homes by 2026 (the exact figure changes by the month).

Our infra-struture cannot cope with today's demands let alone with these increaeses. Despite this, the Lib Dems are allowing a net increase of over 1,000 homes a year before the SW Regional Assembly has even made its final decision.

No Government money for Bournemouth's infrastructure
In answer to written questions put to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Tobias Ellwood has been told that although Bournemouth is expexted to meet these huge building targets the area will recieve no extra funding for improvements to our infrastru

About the Assembly

• 117 Members
Head-quartered in Taunton

• 1/3 are un-elected
One third are un-elected representatives from organisations such as Trade Unions across the region. The other two thirds are made up of councillors from local councils across the South West

• Created by Labour
The SW Regional Assembly has developed from the 'SW Regional Chamber' and had its first meeting in July 2000

• Gaining power
Originally designed to 'promote the economic, social and environmental well being of all who live in the region' it now has substantial powers which formerly belonged to the local councils

• Who represents us?
A Lib Dem Councillor, who along with his Party is fully supportive of Regional Assemblies - which is why there seems to be so little opposition against the housing targets imposed on Bournemouth.