The four main parties in Stratford speak to the Herald about why you should vote for them. The Green’s David Passingham answers the key questions
1. What is your top priority for the Stratford District over the next four years?
Our overall priority would be the climate and ecological crises and how to combat these through local policies. Otherwise, our top priority is to fight for improved local facilities and infrastructure. We would champion sustainable ways of doing this that would create a better district for everyone, and for the future. We would work to end environmental and social injustices by working for the common good.
2. Stratford town centre, in particular, has been described as tired and hampered by traffic issues. How would you address this?
We would create pedestrian and cycle-friendly areas in town centres and villages around the district. This would include pedestrianised areas and 20mph speed limits on roads where appropriate. There would also be improved facilities for those with restricted mobility. We would work to improve road safety and introduce traffic calming measures where practical.
We would campaign for the government to reinstate the rail link to Honeybourne to give through journeys from the north to Oxford, Reading, London as well as the South West. This would enable commuters from the south to travel by train to Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick and thereby not snarl up traffic around Stratford with increased car journeys. It would also encourage tourist and other visitors to come by train, helping to build a more sustainable local economy.
We would apply for government support to make Park & Ride in Stratford free and fund a regular shuttle bus into the town centre.
3. Stratford District Council has been accused of losing out to other authorities in the competition for government money. Do you agree, and if you do agree, what would you do about it?
We disagree with the way that the government hands out money to councils on the basis of funding bids. This is inherently unfair to many other councils, not just Stratford. We would campaign for the government to distribute funding fairly. Until this system of funding changes we would put additional resources into funding bids, especially those that improve facilities and infrastructure.
4. What will you do to ease the housing crisis in the district?
We would focus the planning system on building more social and affordable housing. This housing would be fully insulated and built to the highest energy performance standards with solar panels and heat pumps where appropriate. Houses should be built only where the infrastructure such as schools, medical facilities and transport is upgraded to meet the needs of the community.
5. How will you work with local businesses to boost the district’s economy, create jobs and increase prosperity all round?
We would seek funding to boost the local green economy. This would include:
- Calling for the reform of business rates to benefit local businesses
- A programme of fully insulating existing homes and business premises throughout the district
- Helping local sustainable businesses and retailers with what ever powers the district has
- Encouraging the growing of more local food via market gardens and community supported agriculture
- Encourage green tourism such as more nature reserves, hotels and B&Bs to have eco certificates, eco-tours.
6. Is enough being done in the district to tackle the climate crisis? What would you do?
Not enough is being done to tackle the climate crisis. It should be the number one consideration when making council decisions and policies. The policies outlined in all the other answers we have given would contribute to tackle the crisis in a holistic way.
Connected to the climate emergency there is an ecological emergency. We would make tree planting and the provision of green spaces a priority. We would promote an increase in biodiversity in these spaces and across the district.
7. What feedback have you had from voters and how are you planning to address the issues raised on the doorstep?
The number one feedback from voters is the lack of infrastructure to support the increased population and housing. It is largely beyond the existing financial resources of the district council to provide these. The Community Infrastructure Levy which is contributed by developers to the district council is inadequate, so funding and actions would be sought from government to help. Planning applications should only be approved when provision for improved infrastructure is made.
Another major complaint has been the state of the roads, particularly the number of potholes. We would divert funding from new road schemes to maintaining existing roads until all road surfaces are made safe for the public.
There were many complaints about raw sewage spills into gardens and of overflows from sewage works into rivers and streams. We would use all powers available to make the water authority rectify this situation. No further housing developments should be permitted in areas where this has occurred until the sewage system is shown to be able to cope.
8. Why should the people of the district vote for your party?
We are a party that believes in strong and healthy communities. We believe residents should have a greater say in the decision-making of the council by:
- holding local area forums to engage the public in the local issues
- ensuring that the residents are fully consulted on how the new Local Plan affects their area
- holding regular surgeries and surveys of residents’ views
- producing local newsletters to inform the public on council matters
We would bring a positive and collaborative approach to working with other district councillors to get the job done.