For those who don't know me, I am currently the B&NES Councillor for Midsomer Norton North and a local businessman with a successful business in the Electronics Industry, I have lived in Midsomer Norton for the past 28 years and continue to stand as an Independent candidate.

Firstly I would like to start by thanking all the residents who supported me in my work including opposition to BANES plans for parking charges and housing in South Road car park, the planned £100k cuts to our library also my opposition to Mendip Council building homes on our doorstep at Underhill Lane, to achieve over 200 objection letters is fantastic and demonstrates what we can achieve together. 

We have achieved a lot in the past four years but there is still so much more to do. Sadly this Lib Dem council is still very Bath-centric and spends a disproportionate amount of our money supporting Bath City and its residents, spending £7.4 million on the city centre security barriers while cutting subsidies that support our rural bus network; spending more than £2 million just on re-designing the Bath Milsom quarter and fashion museum while closing business services and standing by while our high street declines in Midsomer Norton. 

We need our voices to be heard! For that reason, I dedicate a huge amount of my time to committees as this is where council policies are created and decisions made, I sit on several committees and working groups and work tirelessly to fight for Midsomer Norton. As an Independent I am free to scrutinise and vote for the needs of Midsomer Norton, not dictated to by a political party. These include Planning Policy, Planning Committee, Corporate Scrutiny, Constitution Review, Somer Valley Enterprise Zone and Midsomer Norton High Street Action Zone. 

Make Midsomer Norton better not bigger! BANES and Mendip continue to try to push for more housing without the infrastructure to support it. The result is our roads, schools, doctors and dental surgeries cannot cope. There is a need for more housing particularly for our younger residents desperate to get on the housing ladder which is why we need more affordable homes available specifically for local people with a local connection, but this must be supported with better services, more investment in our High Street and better business support to improve local work opportunities.

We live in a wonderful town but need the same levels of investment enjoyed by Bath and Keynsham and I will continue my work to achieve the best for Midsomer Norton.

My objectives are to continue holding our council to account on planning policies and scrutinise where they are spending our money, push for more investment in our town on a level with Bath and Keynsham, save and protect our bus services, fight for better infrastructure and against overdevelopment of our town by both BANES and Mendip Councils and of course to continue to support individual residents with any issues they may face.

We need independent councillors that truly represent the residents of Midsomer Norton who are not led by the political parties too concerned with winning the Bath vote. If you would like to know more please call on 01761 408161.