ON MAY 1, 2017, the people of Pembrokeshire will have the opportunity to vote for their county councillors and town and community councillors.

It is five years since the last election so it is important that everyone should vote or accept that nothing will change and it will be another five years before the next election in 2022.

Over the last ten years, the present county council has been criticised by the Welsh Assembly for mistakes in their administration, so much so that the education department was placed “under special measures”; the council was criticised for overpaying its senior officers – an issue which was featured in national newspapers – and has had to repay grants which were wrongly allocated and so on.

The Welsh Assembly were so concerned it was thinking of amalgamating Pembrokeshire with Ceredigion much to that authority’s concern.

Very few councillors seem to be prepared to hold officers and leaders to account and those with that temerity seem to have received very little support from other councillors who seem prepared to accept the status quo.

Fortunately the youth of the county have not been deterred and in support of their schools have been prepared to lobby the council. Well done to them!

If my information is correct it seems that a number of electors in Haverfordwest are intending to follow the example of the youth and will seek election on May 4.

I wish them well and hope that they will be elected and be prepared to join those councillors who hold the authority to account. They deserve the support of the electorate.

To those of you who are questioning why I am not seeking election it is mainly because, regrettably, I am no longer a young man, and am daunted by the thought that, alone, I will have to canvass and speak personally to almost 1,800 electors without the support of a political party, an AM, or an MP.

Ask yourselves if it is time for a change.

JOHN COLE

Milford Haven