Standing as: Independent
Standing for: Brightlingsea Town Council
What do you think are the three most important or pressing issues in Brightlingsea?
Issue 1: Climate change is the most pressing issue facing us all.
Issue 2: Loss of biodiversity – again, this threatens us all. I like to call threats 1 and 2 threats to our life support systems which is what they are.
Issue 3: Although the state of the roads is a very pressing issue I am inclined to put the shortage of affordable housing above that as it is a less visible problem but very important for younger and less well off members of our community.
What three things would most improve Brightlingsea?
Improvement 1:Improved air quality – I was surprised to find out that this is actually very poor and may well explain why there is so much asthma and related health issues in the town.
Improvement 2: t is difficult to identify single issues to improve the town as we need a whole raft of improvements related to 1,2 and 3 above. I have been working on finding ways to increase cycling and walking in the town – this would help to address many of the issues that beset us including climate change, air quality and parking problems.
Improvement 3: According to a report presented to one of the council’s scrutiny committees, Essex County Council have only spent half the estimated cost of repairing the roads this year (over the whole county). In the spirit of ‘a stitch in time saves 9’ I would like to continue to urge ECC to make rapid progress properly repairing and maintaining our roads
Achievements in office – town councillor:
I have found that the wheels of the council grind slowly and have been frustrated by how long it has taken me to take my pet project (campaigning for safe, traffic free cycle routes across the town) forward but at last ECC has responded positively and I am in the process of putting a proposal together. At present I am looking to demonstrate that there is public support for this proposal – so, there is a questionnaire on the back of my election leaflet – please fill it in if you have time! Otherwise, I have worked hard since becoming a councillor to support the council in its work including as a member of the planning committee, the environment and transport team and the nature recovery group.
If you’re elected as a town councillor, what do you hope to achieve?
Safe cycle routes actually being established across the town; my proposal suggests one from All Saints Church to the sea front (roughly North to South) and the other from East to West – each one passing each of the schools. Biodiversity across the town increasing. Doing my bit to contribute towards the mitigation and adaptation to climate change. I hope to be able to help to ensure a safe, happy and healthy future for all the town’s residents.
The town council needs to work to retain the trust of the people of the town by ensuring that we communicate well with residents, are transparent in our operations and listen to their concerns.
I have noticed that our voice tends to get drowned out in Tendring because we are smaller than some of the neighbouring towns (and hence have fewer councillors). I would hope to support our District Councillors in making our voice heard better in future.
Why should people in Brightlingsea vote for you?
I have a sincere commitment to carrying out my role as councillor and will do my best to achieve my aims and to support the town’s residents.
