Carol Birch, an elected Aldwick Parish Councillor since 2019.

Full statement

Since then she has made a difference through installation of solar panels on the parish office building, trees planted across the parish and has been a vice chair of the Aldwick Parish Planning committee. Carol works in social housing and is a specialist in benefits and tenancy support. In the Green Party she has been a key member of the team that has successfully elected 3 Arun district councillors. They have in turn been able to make a valuable difference in Arun but there is much more to do. Carol, will as an Arun District Councillor work towards a more sustainable local plan. Currently we have the Tory led plan governed by the Tory Government imposed Housing Supply numbers. It is possible to review the plan to make it increase the preservation of Arun's wildlife and to reduce the impact of housing. A focus on increasing social housing would save Arun money and be better for residents. The current local plan has failed to provide the much needed infrastructure to support it and the Arundel and Walberton areas are at risk. Flooding and sewage works are essential for the area of Arun and Carol will call for real solutions, not token gestures that are meaningless. Carol will look for policies that will help increase the insulation of properties in Arun in order to prepare for climate change. There is much that can be done to improve Arun with another Green voice on the council. Finally keeping an eye on the budget to save Arun money whilst supporting motions such as the work done by Isabel Thurston in gaining a fund to help Arun residents with their council tax bill.