If elected as your councillor, my job will be to represent you.

Full statement

I will:

• Attend your Parish Council meetings to listen to the issues that affect you so that I can represent you and your community
• Always be available by phone, letter, email or in person, to listen to your problems with council services and do what I can to help you
• Provide regular updates on the issues I am working on for you

These are some of the important issues I am campaigning on:

Stop the floods, fix the roads!
The Council says it can’t afford to fix our roads. Yet flooding is a major cause of dangerous potholes. “We must deal with the flooding, so money is not wasted on repairs that don’t last.” Drains must be regularly maintained and the Council must use its powers to require landowners to clear their ditches. “I will campaign for a more proactive approach which will prevent damage and free up funds to do more repairs.”

Restore our rural buses
Many people rely on buses to get about and yet our services have been cut to the bone by the Conservatives. “I will fight to restore the Taxishare service, so no village is left without a lifeline to shops and GP surgeries.”

Safer streets
20 mph speed limits in some towns and villages would let people walk and cycle safely. In the forest, animals are being killed by speeding drivers. We need speed indicator signs to deter speeding, backed up by regular police checks.

Make recycling easier
“I will fight to keep our recycling centres open and campaign for community skips.” This will make it easier to dispose of large items and deter fly-tipping. We should also help people to recycle by accepting more items, such as foil, pots and tubs.

Help for our high streets
Our high streets must be places that people want to come to! We must work with landlords to encourage them to let empty shops. Lyndhurst and Fordingbridge must get their fair share of funding from the new Mayor’s investment fund. This will help to breathe new life into our high streets.

I am a member of the Green Party because I think it is the only political party that has the answers to the most important issues that we all face.

“A vote for the Green Party is a vote for a society which helps those in genuine need and isn’t afraid to stand up to those who would destroy the things we value.”

Please contact me:

Send me an email and let me know your thoughts: janet.richards@greenparty.org.uk