David Lee writes:

I am standing as a Labour Party candidate in the upcoming BANES elections in order to help provide some real opposition to the Lib Dem Council who time and time again have made poor decisions without being held to account. Midsomer Norton pay a high rate of Council tax yet seem to receive little in return. In the 2019 Local Elections only 30% of the electorate turned up to vote in the Midsomer Norton North Ward. Voting in big numbers makes it harder for communities to be ignored so I encourage everyone to get out and vote on the 4th of May and show BANES that MSN will not be forgotten. With 228 votes between first and last place in 2019 every vote really does matter!

In recent weeks I have had many conversations with residents about the local issues that they are concerned with and the same issues have been popping up time and again. People regularly tell me that accessibility is a big problem, especially in the High Street and on the Greenway. As your local councillor I will work with residents, businesses, the town council and BANES to ensure that as many places as possible are made easily accessible by those with physical disabilities. Many people are discouraged from visiting Midsomer Norton because of poor accessibility. On a similar note, people have been telling me that they are also upset by bus services into and out of the town. As Councillor I will fully support the Metro Mayor Dan Norris in his efforts to make sure there is reliable bus services for MSN, this will also help attract visitors to the High Street and make it easier for people to commute for work. Residents have also informed me that they are having difficulty communicating with both the town council and BANES with several instances of emails being totally ignored. As your local councilor I will always take the concerns of residents seriously and will work relentlessly to find solutions to the problems affecting you. I will be your voice and will fight any injustices on your behalf. There is not enough for the youth of MSN to do and so I will work with others to find ways in which young people can spend more time being productive and fulfilled.

The BANES Labour Manifesto for 2023 is available online and I really do encourage you to check it out as it has lots of really good policies on the things that matter. In particular our Manifesto has policies on ensuring homes are fit for the future, that our health and well - being is looked after, protecting our environment and creating opportunities for everyone.

Thanks for reading, David Lee.