I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the many residents of Quemerford Ward, in Calne, for supporting my recent attempt to become a Calne town councillor, sadly, unsuccessfully.

As I have been living in the ward since moving to the area 20 years ago, I felt I was ideally placed to understand and react to the issues within the ward, but I must accept the electorate has decided they would be better served by a Liberal Democrat councillor living four miles from the ward.

I must congratulate the Lib Dems on their campaign, with their promise to reverse the 31.2 per cent town council tax increase proving to be a winner.

As the Lib Dems now have the majority of seats in both the town and district councils, I shall be eagerly awaiting my revised, reduced tax demand in the very near future.

I should like to point out however, that the unusually high town tax increase was in response to the residents of Calne's mini referendum decision that the council should buy, renovate and convert the old, unused Carnegie library building into a heritage centre.

The rise was voted through by members of the previous council on the clear understanding that it would be a one-off increase for this year only and that the tax demand for 2004 would be reduced accordingly.

It would therefore be unacceptable for the Lib Dem authorities to wait until next year and then claim they have reduced the tax.

I sincerely wish all the residents of Quemerford ward the best for the future and I look forward to being able to stand for town council in the next election.

Helen Plenty

Conservative candidate

Calne