By Press Release
It’s been a full-on week, feeling the shock of winning the election by a landslide as councillor for Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet. My first thoughts being, “how can I meet public expectations?”
Having listened to residents and asking questions, the concerns were clear. They are on quality-of-life issues such as road speeds, planning threats, transport failings and conservation, on wider issues of fuel and food poverty, NHS struggles such as GPs and threats to our green Island. And it all felt slightly overwhelming.
Then a neighbour said “We don’t expect the world”. The public expects elected people to care, communicate, plan carefully and make decisions in the best interests of the community. People don’t expect miracles or immediate changes. but they do expect us to bring all our drive and experience to work. Which made me realise that I do have the skills and capabilities to influence and deliver on things that matter. I have expertise from long experience in industry, the Civil Service working in forensic accounting, an international trade and industry expert in science and innovation, as a teacher and now running a micro-business. Talking on the doorstep and on the two parish councils I serve, I’ve put in the effort to be in a position to help. In the Liberal Democrats I found a home for my views on fairness, innovation, private and public organisation and conservation of the natural world that supports us all.
With the support of a large team I talked to many people in this election about their concerns, worries and hopes. And in spite of major challenges there is hope and the possibility of a better future.
We need to protect people and families struggling with eye-watering energy costs, soaring food bills and lack of decent rental housing. Which means difficult decisions in local government as they deal with the fallout from the current government’s unbelievable economic mismanagement.
We see all around us the results of cuts in funding to the Island and to Government departments like environment, the health service and housing.
Those decisions should be addressed in a collective approach looking for consensus not conflict. In the forthcoming budget debates, in the Island Strategic Plan, in corporate plans and council committees we can work on the current challenges.
On the environment we need to move faster on reducing our fossil fuel use, which does mean adopting renewable energy from wind, solar and tidal. We need to create a circular economy of reducing our consumption, resting materials and recycling. In housing we need to assist the 6,000 people in need of homes, with a focus on low-cost high-grade environmental housing for rental in our villages and rural areas as well as towns. Where these houses are is a matter for intense debate, but the need is obvious. Without low-cost rental homes the Island will become a decaying dormitory, not the environmentally vibrant Island with a thriving cultural sector and innovative industry that we could become.
My view is that the current Government has yet to listen to the Island’s issues and opportunities. They pay lip service to our ferry problems with no regulation, no public service obligations and no support. They ignore the problems of travel for healthcare and the extra time costs and aggravations for industry. They pretend to care as sewage washes onto our beaches, our farmers and landscapes face massive threats from poor trade deals, while they threaten to toss aside environmental laws that safeguard our waters and landscape.
In spite of these worries, we cannot give up. As a local councillor for the biggest Island ward I will communicate, I will listen and I will try to keep what we have and build a better future.
