Dear Fellow St George's Residents

The evidence of neglect in Castle Point is stark.

Full statement

Driving and cycling on crater ridden roads, footpaths with dangerous trip hazards, failure to maintain Council buildings - and lights off after midnight, with 68 due to be permanently left off - without consultation! Yet our Tory Council is sitting on £6Million in Reserves?? LabourStart 1998 Local Plan protected our Greenbelt for decades but the Tories have made a costly shambles of its replacement. One withdrawn draft included building on Glebelands Greenbelt! That wont help us if, as seems likely, Central Government loses patience and takes over. My Tory opponent lives on Canvey and the other candidate lives in Hadleigh. We need a strong LOCAL Labour voice on Castle Point Council so I seek your support and vote on the 3rd May.

ABOUT JOE COOKE
A retired Ford Snr Systems Analyst, Joe and his family have lived in St George’s since 1970. After gaining his Electronics degree as a Student Apprentice, his career at Dunton Research and Warley HQ was coupled with Staff Union work locally and Nationally and he is the Unite Branch Chair. He has always been involved with the community, serving as a Woodham Ley School Governor, Citizens Advice Trustee and for three periods, as your St George’s ward Councillor. Joe is passionate about the NHS and Disability issues. Aided by his close family, he is a Carer for his wife and is also an elected Governor of Southend Hospital and active in NHS Campaigns.

PLEDGES

I WILL DEFEND OUR GREENBELT
Vigilance to stop development on the Glebelands Greenbelt must continue and I pledge to be in the forefront on your behalf.

I WILL BE YOUR NHS WATCHDOG
As an elected Southend Hospital Governor I will continue scrutiny on your behalf and fight to restore NHS funding.

I WILL CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER ROADS
I will lobby our County Councillors to ensure dangerous potholes and trip hazards are removed from our roads and paths.

I WILL FIGHT TO RESTORE STREET LIGHTS
Our damaged roads and paths make restoring our street lights of even greater importance.

I WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU
My opponents live miles from us in Canvey & Hadleigh. I live in our Ward and will continue to be available to you for advice and help.