We have concentrated on local issues during the campaign. As the election on Thursday approaches I think it is worth refocusing on those matters that people have told us are important to them. Some of these have been dealt with at greater length in previous posts, but to summarise:-Development: People are not only concerned about the way in which new construction will be delivered, but are also asking the related question ‘is there really enough infrastructure in place to support the plans?’ The Piggeries site at Great Waldingfield and the Chilton Woods development will have an impact on all of us. Traffic management and the overall impact of development are the questions that will need close attention. It is possible that changes in central government guidelines on housing density could result in a more appropriate number of homes being built on the Piggeries site. The number of homes planned at Chilton Woods however seem to be creeping upwards. It will be a priority for me, if elected to Babergh, to keep a close eye on the detailed plans as they evolve, keep up to date with government guidelines, and check that conditions and restrictions placed on developers are complied with.
Then we come to the plans to extract gravel at Chilton (with related industrial activities). Colin and I certainly believe that development of this site at this time is a step too far for the area. Colin spoke against the proposals at Babergh earlier in the month, and intends to do so again in the summer when the final decision is made at Suffolk County Council.
Healthcare: As some of you know I had to travel to A & E at the West Suffolk Hospital on Friday. I was lucky. The unit was quiet and I was in and out in under two hours. However, it was fortunate that my husband was around to drive me to Bury. For others the need to travel so far would have been a serious inconvenience. Colin has been at the forefront of the fight both to save our local hospitals and the facilities that we have and also to secure adequate provision of health care for all in the future. I will do all I can to support him in this area.
The Environment: Some voters have become much more aware of 'green issues' and are interested in the Council’s initiatives to increase the level of recycling and encourage other policies that conserve the Earth's resources. As we have gone round the ward we have seen some encouraging examples of pioneering householders investing in new technology such as solar panels which not only save energy but reduce carbon emissions too.
Related to the environment in general, many people are concerned about the amount of litter to be seen lying around the district. Living on the edge of a town where fast food outlets have proliferated in recent years has definitely meant more rubbish. My husband Nick watched amazed recently as a couple sitting in a car on the Airfield completed their Big Macs and cokes, wound down both the windows, calmly chucked out their rubbish and drove off. Education is one answer, and in my view more should be done by the fast food outlets themselves to resolve the problem. (Perhaps VAT should be charged on take away food (it is currently exempt). The money raised might be used to clean up.)
Finally there is the ever increasing level of Council Tax . This is of particular concern for those who earn just a little more than the level at which Council Tax Benefit kicks in, childless below-average earners, young workers under 25 and Pensioners with a small occupational pension. Gordon Brown’s removal of the 10% income tax band has hit these groups, who are among the hardest pressed people in our society.
It is a manifesto commitment of the Conservative Group at Babergh to be business-like and to provide cost effective services. If elected I am very much looking forward to rising to this particular challenge. I am encouraged by the fact that Conservative members at Babergh have unwaveringly supported recent initiatives to invest in systems aimed at keeping Council Tax down without compromising the quality of services delivered.
While I do not think that party politics are particularly relevant in the sphere of local government:-
Figures show that Conservative Councils have the cleanest streets with lower levels of litter, graffiti and fly posting.
It is also a fact that Conservative Councils have a much better record of keeping Council Tax increases down than other political parties. In 2007/8, averaged across the different tiers of local government, they charged £55 a year less on Band D Council Tax than Labour councils and £84 a year less than Liberal Democrat councils.
If any reader wants the source of these claims with supporting evidence please e mail me.
