County Lib Dems call for lottery reimbursement

10.24.53am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 26th Mar 2008

Councillor Rogers is calling on the government to restore lottery funds to community organisations.

Leader of the Lib Dem group on East Sussex County Council David Rogers has called upon the government to restore the lottery money they are using for the Olympic Games.

David says: "We welcome the fact the Olympics are coming to Britain in 2012. But the government is robbing Peter to pay Paul. By raiding lottery funds to pay for the Olympics, they are starving the local sports organisations which enable people to participate in sport. We call upon the government to restore these lottery funds."

In a motion supported almost unanimously by East Sussex County Councillors, Councillor Rogers welcomed the opportunities created by the Olympics, but called upon the government to restore the lottery money.

Denton and Seaford West councillor, Pat Ost says: "This is yet another example of the government diverting much-needed cash from local communities to pay for their projects. First we had bus passes for senior citizens, then post offices, now this. The government must fund its own activities - not raid funds used by local communities."

Following the vote, East Sussex County Council will now write to the Secretary of State to restore the lottery funds.