OPPOSITION councillors say the Tory’s “slash and burn” attitude to axing 500 jobs at Gloucestershire County Council will damage frontline services.

But Conservative councillors maintain their three-year plan to save £60million will not affect major services.

At an overview and scrutiny meeting at Shire Hall yesterday, a legal challenge by Lib Dems to find out which jobs will face the chop was blocked.

Their plan to “call in” the decision over the cuts until it had been discussed by the overview and scrutiny committee was criticised by the Conservatives as a delaying tactic which would have cost taxpayers at least £15,000.

The Conservatives have also reassured taxpayers the 500 job cuts will not affect major services and will be mainly management and administrative posts.

Richard Coates, Conservative group researcher at the county council, said the Building our Future plan aims to save Gloucestershire taxpayers £60million over three years, by cutting back certain posts.

The money saved will be used to keep council tax down and protect frontline services.

But Lib Dem councillor Jeremy Hilton said: “It is still a mystery where the axe will fall. We asked for details of which services will face loss of staff. They refused to make these cuts public.”

Leader Cllr Barry Dare said frontline services would not be significantly affected by the first stage of the plan.

In June GCC announced it would be shedding 200 jobs in a bid to help fill a £60m gap in its budget although this figure may rise to 500 over the three-year programme.

The council is the largest employer in Gloucestershire with over 17,500 workers, including school staff, which are not affected by the cuts.