TALKING POLITICS

JOHN PLACE BOLLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL

AS a newly elected councillor for Bollington Town Council West Ward I have been reflecting upon political life at all UK levels.

From the towering heights of a remote elite London-based undemocratic Parliament through to the hapless Cheshire East Council and Bollington Town Council – the cheapest tier of local government public accountability, delivery and democracy.

So what does the future hold for 2,000+ West Ward residents?

As a new councillor I see our whole system of UK government straining under years of unnecessary austerity.

The Government is currently mired in and obsessed with Brexit negotiations and party infighting against an equally urgent need to address key pressing issues in the economy ie employment, equality, housing needs, health, education and the environment at all levels of Government.

What does this mean practically for 2,000 plus local Bollington West Ward residents.

On 1,300 ward doorsteps the ‘silent majority’ of voters said they were simply seeking change. They were tired of politicians who regularly did not deliver on their promises only turning up at election time!

My job now is to actually deliver locally on five key pledges ie working tirelessly for all residents, resolve local parking/traffic management problems, restore lost public transport links, challenge punitive public service cuts (ie closing the Millbrook Unit, reducing public services while community charges increase by 5.99 per cent) and protecting valuable Bollington Green Belt land and our environment for future generations.

I will work hard to make progress delivering these improvements for Bollington West Ward and would urge all voters to think carefully about how politicians have delivered on their previous promises at the Cheshire East Council Elections in May 2019.