Hello! I’m Laura Greatrex, your Labour candidate for Didcot West division in the Oxfordshire County Council elections on May 1.

Full statement

Since the start of my working life – managing a housing estate in London - I have always tried to make that extra difference in the way I support others. My early experiences helped me appreciate that it was elected Labour representatives who were most likely to achieve real change in and for local communities. I have been a Labour supporter since then, working ceaselessly in all areas of my life to secure better public services in communities across the United Kingdom.

As I have matured, I have become increasingly keen to make a direct impact in my community, for example by working locally with the Didcot Foodbank and Home-Start. I have also rolled up my sleeves and become a Fix My Street Super User for roads, meaning that I can now spray problem potholes and raise works orders direct, with a prescribed 28 days for repairs to be carried out by Oxfordshire County Council. Super Users speed up the repair process, because our work means an OCC official doesn’t have to come out to investigate the issue raised. I’ve already been hard at work across Didcot West and you can be sure that I will hold OCC firmly to account in these and all other areas.

My daughters are lucky enough to go to Didcot Girls’ School, a beacon of excellence. We would all like to think that we can enjoy access to excellent education, housing, transport, employment and health care facilities, but I know that some residents have not benefitted as much as others, a failing which I find increasingly unacceptable. I will fight hard for Didcot West to secure the facilities that are needed for everyone to thrive.

I believe that my experience, passion and commitment make me a strong candidate to represent the residents of Didcot West on the County Council, and I would greatly welcome the opportunity to serve you.