Hi, my name is Steve Hinchliffe and I’m delighted to be chosen as the Labour Party Candidate for South Molton in the Devon County Council Elections to be held in May.

Full statement

I have lived in South Molton for 27 years with my wife Sue who is an Advanced Practitioner Occupational Therapist at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple. I work as a Carpenter in the South Molton area and together with my wife have raised two daughters who were both educated at South Molton Schools.

As a lifelong member of the Labour Party, I would relish the opportunity to work towards implementing the Parties policies within Devon County Council and advancing the hopes and dreams of the people of Devon.

I was a member of the Board of Governors at South Molton Community Infants School for ten years, six of which as Chairman, and am passionate about the quality of the education of our children. Having left Education, young people should be able to reasonably hope for housing and employment within their local area. We have seen plenty of new housing being constructed locally but how many of those properties are affordable to young local people. Precious few is the answer. Developers should be held to account with their promises of `affordable` housing.

The potential job opportunities, locally and nationally, to be had producing renewable energy and tackling a terrifying climate challenge, are immense.

If successful, as your voice for South Molton, I shall champion these and many other causes within the halls of power of Devon.