Change Lib Dem’s new leader at Shire Hall reveals goals
THE Liberal Democrats’ new leader at Gloucestershire County Council says it is time for a change at Shire Hall.
County born and bred Ben Evans, 42, has been involved in politics since 2019 when he became county councillor for Churchdown, where he lives.
Born in Cheltenham and raised in St Mark’s, he went to Rowanfield Junior School and later Churchdown Comprehensive. At 18, he moved to London and has worked as a youth worker since he left school. After moving back to the county in 2008 and settling in Churchdown, he worked with the youth support team at Gloucestershire County Council.
He says he had never thought about getting into politics until he was approached to stand as councillor after the sudden death of his predecessor in 2019. Three years after becoming a councillor, he has now been elected as group leader of the Lib Dems with Lisa Spivey (LD, South Cerney) as deputy.
“I was never really interested in local politics but in 2019 Jack Williams, who was my predecessor, passed away very suddenly,” he said.
“I was approached by the party three times to stand and I accepted on the third attempt. I was going to be a councillor for a year and then of course Covid came and there was delay for another year.
“During the pandemic, I organised it so that every road in Churchdown had a volunteer to provide food and medicine to those who needed it. We had 150 volunteers in total. I really enjoyed that.
“Then in the election last year, I said I would stand again and won again. There are lots of councillors who say it will be their last term but then they stand again because it becomes quite addictive once you get into it.
“I really like the community side of it. That’s my thing. The political side I find quite hard work. The stuff on the ground and helping people is what I’ve done as a career. That’s what really matters.
“It’s often little things in people’s lives that you can change as a councillor which makes a real difference. I became a Lib Dem member in 2015 over Brexit as a lot of people did.”
He says his party is determined to win the next county council elections in 2025 and wants Shire Hall to be run in a more creative way.
Councillor Evans believes Gloucestershire should strive to provide excellent children’s services, which would not only benefit residents but would also attract spending from other counties.
“When I go and knock on doors people always say the same things to me. It’s the fundamentals that people want sorted.
“If you look at Lib Dem councils in the Cotswolds and Cheltenham they are more creative and that’s where we need to position ourselves. By investing we could turn that tide and start bringing money into Gloucestershire rather than taking it out all the time.
“In opposition we are going to try and be as cooperative as we can with all parties while at the same time we are tired with the Conservatives. It’s time for change.
“It’s time for new energy and a positive attitude to fix the issues that everyone knows are going on in Gloucestershire, to fix the roads, our local services and to restore some civic pride. I’m absolutely determined to be the next council leader and local people deserve better.”