Who will get your vote as Fareham goes to the polls?
Here’s the lowdown on the local elections taking place across our region next Thursday. We continue today with Fareham Borough Council
With council elections less than a week away, we have spoken to leaders of the parties standing in Fareham.
From bins and safer streets to energy-efficient council houses and promoting local arts, the parties are setting out their stalls ahead of polling day.
It will be an all-out election this year, with 32 seats up for grabs when residents cast their votes next Thursday.
There are 31 Conservative, 22 Labour, 25 Liberal Democrats, 11 Green, six Independent and four Reform UK party candidates standing across the borough.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted each party and asked for a senior representative to tell us about their priorities and why residents should vote for them. Here is what they had to say, listed alphabetically by party.
Reform UK did not respond.
Conservative Party: Seán Woodward, leader of the Fareham Conservative Party
I have been leader of Fareham Borough Council since Conservatives took control from a Lib/lab pact in 1999 when action was taken to stabilise the council’s finances. We have provided excellent services at almost the lowest council tax of all district councils in the country.
We have provided many improvements in the borough – new and improved community centres, new children’s playgrounds, country parks such as
Abbey Meadows and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Park at Daedalus.
Fareham Conservatives have built a new leisure centre at Holly Hill, carried out refurbishments of Fareham Leisure Centre, purchased Fareham Shopping Centre and are regenerating the town centre including Fareham Live, now selling tickets. Plus new parking provision.
We purchased Daedalus for £1 in 2015 and have created Solent Airport@ Daedalus, which is home to many well-paid jobs and businesses. Fareham Innovation Centre now houses 57 businesses and 350 jobs.
Providing new homes is important. We are now bringing Welborne online for Fareham people including homes, schools, masses of open space, a surgery and motorway junction.
I hope people make the choice to focus on local issues and vote Conservative for Fareham so we can carry on delivering the very best for local people.
Green Party: David Harrison, coordinator of the Green Party for Fareham and Gosport
Voting Green is a positive vote for change and for a better world. We know that the challenges are large, national and global; but they are also small, local and on our doorstep, things that we can do something about in our own towns.
The Green Party in Fareham and Gosport will bring sustainability and social justice to the heart of policy and decision-making; and at the local elections in May, our biggest ever slate of candidates will give more people than ever before the chance to vote green.
Our cleaner, fairer and sustainable future will see affordable, safe and convenient public transport; safe cycling and walking routes; genuinely affordable, energy-efficient social housing; regeneration of our high streets and local businesses; continued progress on recycling; and parks and open spaces that are simply good for us.
Your local Green Party supports all of this, and wants to work hard for our
It will be an all-out election this year, with 32 seats up for grabs when residents cast their votes next Thursday.
community. All of these proposals are achievable and worth doing, and they don’t cost the earth.
Remember: a Green vote is not a wasted vote – the only wasted vote is one you don’t use or don’t believe in.
Start right now and give your ward a Green voice.
Independent group: Nick Gregory, leader of the group of Independent candidates
I was first elected in 2010 for Fareham West ward. Being a veteran Royal Combat Engineer, I have always done my best to serve in everyone’s best interest, with transparency.
As councillors, we are elected to scrutinise, not run the Borough of Fareham on behalf of the public.
In my experience as a councillor, residents feel as though political parties often present a “jigsaw with parts missing” in favour of their own agendas and the public never really get the full picture until after decisions are made.
This year’s election is an all-out election. If you are happy with the current administration of our borough, then continue to vote as you have before.
If you want change, then vote for change. It can only happen if you go out and vote Independent, the first step in your voice being represented.
Independent candidates have no manifesto or agenda – you tell us what you want changing and let us be your voice within Fareham
Council.
If elected, I will be proposing a motion to stop any leader serving over two terms (eight years) to restrict the potential abuse of control over council decisions.
Labour Party: Dominic Martin, leader of Fareham Labour Party
It’s time to put people and community first in Fareham. Fareham Labour’s candidates are local people who champion their communities and put their residents and neighbours first.
They have been standing up for them and taking action, from taking on developers who have not delivered on their promises to running campaigns to tackle dangerous speeding to listening to local businesses’ concerns. Imagine what more they could do as councillors.
Over the past few years, they have listened to residents, businesses and community groups, hearing their stories and priorities.
Through this listening exercise, Fareham Labour has built a plan to build a fairer, greener, safer Fareham through five missions: to deliver a stronger local economy, more affordable homes, safer streets, renewed high streets, and better parks and services.
Our approach is grounded in sound council finances, which enable us to provide better services, free parking and low council tax. In fact, Labour council tax bills are on average £346 less than those of Conservative councils.
By holding the council accountable and reducing complacency, waste, borrowing, outsourcing and consulting spending, we can ensure lower taxes and improved services for all. This is our commitment to you.
Vote Labour on May 2.
Liberal Democrats: David Brunnen, chair of Fareham Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats have a new vision for Fareham.
It is time for change. We can build that change on our values for community, environment, democracy, liberty, equality, human rights and internationalism.
Our local priorities for Fareham include: ⬛ An increased focus on protection and enhancement of our natural environments for both residents and wildlife ⬛ Celebrating and promoting local arts, history, culture, heritage and creative communities ⬛ Re-energising Fareham town centre and our local economy
⬛ Strong protection of green areas and enhanced amenities at all new developments
⬛ Improved anticrime initiatives and neighbourhood/ community facilities; better-connected joined-up transport with linkages to medical centres.
Resources will be spread over a wider range of community-based projects, programmes and activities to ensure a greater benefit for all Fareham residents rather than a small number of big projects for a few people.
We plan to improve the transparency of governance of Fareham, with more open council decision-making, greater local resident consultation, more public debate and easier access to information.
It is time for a fresh and fair approach in Fareham. Liberal Democrats are here, strong and ready to serve for all current and future residents.