The environment and planning high on the agenda for candidates
Labour, Greens and Lib Dems do battle with Conservatives
THOUSANDS of residents are ready to cast their vote in the Havant local elections on May 5 and here’s why the major parties believe they deserve their vote.
Conservatives are in control of Havant Borough Council with a comfortable majority of 36 seats out of 38.
This year there are 14 seats up for election and over 80 people have put themselves forward as candidates.
Councillor Alex Rennie, Conservative leader of the council and Bondfields ward candidate, believes his party is the only one with ambitious plans for the borough.
‘We are looking to accelerate plans to regenerate our town centres, deliver affordable housing and make investments into our playparks and open spaces,’ he said.
‘We are also focusing on delivering the benefits of Brexit through the Solent Freeport and UK Shared Prosperity Fund that ensures money previously sent to the EU is used on improving our area.’
‘We are also standing up to government on the issue of housing, demanding that they look again at our targets and ensuring our revised local plan delivers greener homes.’
Phil Munday, candidate for St Faiths believes the council needs a strong Labour presence to hold the majority to account.
‘They have made many poor decisions including failing on its Local Plan, which was rejected by government inspectors.
‘This is now estimated to cost an extra £250,000 per year while a new one is being drawn up.
‘If elected we will Inform local residents on planning and infrastructure issues through regular newsletters, listen and follow up on issues raised, including concerns about the impact of all the new houses on our local roads, parking, and medical services
‘We will support our local shops and traders by demanding some free parking in our local shopping centres to attract residents back.
‘We will demand that we really do build back greener by supporting the fitting of solar panels or photovoltaic tiles to all new homes.
Shelley Saunders, another Bondfields ward candidate, believes The Green Party is the only true independent party.
‘Councillors can speak up for the electorate and are not told how to vote by their party,’ she said.
‘We are focused on people, not the party. We work hard all year round not just at election time; we listen, take action and have a strong focus on a thriving and wellbeing society.
‘We want to see local councils lead a mass home upgrade scheme, modelled on a programme in Lewes District Council.
‘Here, the council is working with six other local authorities to retrofit 40,000 council homes, using the collective financial firepower of their housing maintenance accounts - a combined total of £1 billion.'