Government has spent a phenomenal amount of money on Covid relief

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: British Prime, Minister Boris Johnson looks on after nurse Rebecca Cathersides administered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Lyn Wheeler at Guy's Hospital at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history on December 8, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. More than 50 hospitals across England were designated as covid-19 vaccine hubs, the first stage of what will be a lengthy vaccination campaign. NHS staff, over-80s, and care home residents will be among the first to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which recently received emergency approval from the country's health authorities. (Photo by Frank Augstein - Pool / Getty Images) PPP-200912-183639003

Your column last week included a letter from a Dr Kathy Ballard , who purported to be a Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Sovereign ward : as a resident there , it seems funny then that I had never heard of her.

She proceeded to criticise our MP, Caroline Ansell, for voting to block some additional government expenditure in support of families during the Covid crisis, clearly not realising that the government has spent a phenomenal amount of money on Covid relief ( via furlough and so on) which was in fact money it did not have.

It is all borrowed to combat a virus which could not have been foreseen , and causing the national debt to reach proportions which are unsustainable, and which cannot be added to indefinitely. A line has to be drawn somewhere .

If Dr Ballard has influence with the Liberal Democrat council here, she would do better to recognise the dire financial position the council is in – and already was prior to the virus – yet still went ahead with totally unaffordable upgrades of the Arndale/ Beacon Centre and other local prime sites , on which full payback may never be obtained.

Had it been better off financially without such outlay and not spent that money (I gather millions of pounds are involved), it might recently have been able to offer bonus financial support to the highly stressed local NHS ( with staff incentives, rewards and equipment in mind).

It could also have extended support to all Eastbourne residents during this time of extreme financial hardship for many, by pegging or even reducing council tax for the coming year: another added expense at quite the wrong time which struggling families will find hard to cover.

The extent of the increase in council tax will soon become obvious when the letters arrive on the doormat before very long .

Similarly, it is patently obvious that local businesses are taking a big hit .

Some of the money previously spent unwisely might have been applied to some form of assistance there.

No business will instantly return to normal the first day the virus has gone, it will take many months or even more than a year in some cases due to the loss of income and financial security over the duration of Covid 19 .

The Liberal Democrat majority on Eastbourne Borough Council has been in place now for quite some time.

I suggest , when the next local council elections take place, that people take heed of the financial factors described and vote accordingly at the time .