As councillors representing Southwick, we welcome the news that Neil Parkin, leader of Adur District Council Conservative group, has called for further information on the proposed rent rises for shops in the town (Argus, April 30).

The rises have been proposed by the officers of the council acting under delegated powers granted to them by the Lib Dems when they were in control. It is therefore somewhat ironic that these same Lib Dems are now promoting publicity for a petition protesting about the rises, which largely arise from their own ruinous financial policies of those times.

However, be that as it may, both shopkeepers and their customers need much more information and we welcome the fact that, at the request of Tory councillor Jim Funnell, the issues are to be placed before the next meeting of the council's executive policy board.

The people of Adur should also know that, in the light of this fiasco, Councillor Dave Ashley secon-ded an emergency Labour motion that the whole system of rent increases for businesses across Adur must be reviewed.

We are advised there has been no increase in the Southwick shop rents since 1990. In the current review, 18 properties are involved, of which four have already been settled. Shopkeepers have every right to seek their own professional advice and valuation.

However, we must emphasise, under recent government "best value" legislation, the council has a statutory obligation to secure the best financial returns from council investments.

To pretend there is an easy or ready solution to this problem is to deceive traders and the public alike purely for fleeting popularity at election time.

Finally, in your story about the petition, the impression is given that Lib Dem P Elgood is a Southwick councillor, which is not the case.

-Dave Ashley, Robert Dunn, Jim Funnell and Julie Searle, Conservative councillors, Southwick