Involved
as an activist since the age of 9, delivering
leaflets in the 1973 election, Alex was first
elected to Canterbury City Council at the age
of only 23 as LibDem member for Westgate ward,
the youngest member ever to have been elected
to the City Council.
Now a member for Wincheap Ward, Alex is
leader of the Liberal Democrat group and leader
of the opposition on the council.
He first decided to stand for the Council
because he wanted to work at grassroots level,
making sure ordinary
people get a chance to have their say and
see some action on issues which effect them
and the place they live.
"The most important issue facing us at
the moment is of course the future of
our hospital. My children were all
born there and it represents a vital safety
net which, as a parent, is simply not negotiable.
That is why I will never give up the fight to
re-instate full Accident and Emergency facilities
at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital. I am
also a very keen fighter for the environment.
I want a safe and stable and healthy place for
my children to bring up their families!
"After that comes the general principle
of putting people
first. As councillors we are the people's
representatives and that is why it is always
vital to ask as many people as possible what
they want. That is why the regular FOCUS leaflets
are so important. They give us a chance to let
local people know what is going on and ask them
to get back to us with their thoughts.
"I suppose that is the big difference
between the Liberal Democrats and the other
parties. We don't dictate policy, we
ask you what you want - and make sure
you get it!"
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Nick is
married with two grown up children. He has spent
most of his working life running various education
businesses and has travelled all over the world.
"I’m really interested in planning
issues and how they affect local people",
he says. "They can really worry people.
In fact I probably get more letters on this
than anything else.
"Helping people with local problems is
what it’s all about – and we can
make a difference. The LibDem Focus team has
always taken a real interest in local issues.
After all, getting your bin emptied or not probably
affects more people than whether or not the
government goes out and buys a new battleship.
"However, the big issue for me is the
future of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.
I’ve been on the marches, I’ve been
up to the House of Commons, I’ve lobbied
M.P.’s, I’ve written endless letters
and been to endless meetings. I will never give
up this battle."
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I am very
proud that as a Liberal Democrat Councillor
representing the residents of Wincheap and Thanington
since 1995, I have been able to support and be
involved in many achievements to improve the quality
of life of local residents. These include :
Community Safety:
- Reduction of crime and vandalism
through the closure of certain alleyways;
- Provision of hard standing for cars in front
gardens;
- Pedestrian crossing across the A28 for the
Centre and recreation ground.
Provision of community services
- Thanington Neighbourhood
Resource Centre, which now boasts activities
and events for all age groups, including the
UK on-line computer training centre;
- ARCA club - obtaining financial support towards
its re-building.
Activities and Facilities for Young
People
- Including the floodlight
basketball pitch, after school club, holiday
playscheme, homework club - all run at the Thanington
Resource Centre.
Quality of Life
- The mural on the Roger Britton
building produced in conjunction with Esso.
Ongoing Issues
I will continue to fight for
other improvements including :-
- Traffic on the A28
- Reduction in the speed limit from 40 to 30
mph from the traffic lights at the end of Wincheap
to the roundabout
- The slip road from the A28 to the A2 to London
- Further pedestrian crossing
- Monitoring the opening of the bus gate at
Cotton Road on traffic flows through Wincheap.
Affordable Housing
- Ensuring 30% of housing on
the new developments in Hollow Lane and Nunnery
Fields are affordable;
- Pulling down damaged and vandalised garages
and building family homes;
- Fighting to save local amenities such as the
local post office;
- More youth opportunities including new skateboarding
facilities in Thanington.
As joint portfolio holder for Housing and Community
Development, I have a wide brief which covers
all quality of life issues affecting the residents
of the Canterbury district and I shall continue
to fight to see that people’s concerns,
expectations and needs are met successfully. |
The
Wincheap LibDem Councillors
