Cllr Clive Jones
With the local elections in full swing, local politicians are spending a great deal of time delivering election leaflets to your homes and knocking on your doors seeking your support.
In the last week I have been campaigning in Woodley, Earley, Shinfield, Barkham, Wokingham Without and Wokingham Town.
We have had many positive conversations with residents who have liked the way that the Liberal Democrats have been running the borough council since we took control of the council from the Conservatives last May.
Residents have told me they liked the way the Liberal Democrats have worked positively with other political parties and have particularly liked the fact that we supported both Labour and Independent councillors to be the chairs of important committees at the council. Similar offers of support were made to the Conservatives but they declined to take on any responsibilities.
I am pleased that most residents want to hear about why they should support the Liberal Democrats in next month’s Borough and Town council elections. They don’t want to hear about negative campaigning that complains about political opponents.
Residents are very pleased that we have stopped Conservative plans to allow 270 houses to be built on council owned land at Rooks Nest Farm. Instead, we will be planting a nearly 8m000 tree Covid Memorial Wood so residents will have somewhere where they can go to remember the loved ones they lost during the Covid pandemic.
Residents have also been pleased with the help that Liberal Democrats have put in place to help residents with the cost of living crisis. We have created a hardship fund of £250,000 which will be used to help struggling families to feed their families and keep themselves warm. We have also supported families with free school meals during school holidays if they would normally receive free school meals during term time.
Still very high on residents lists of concerns is housing development in the borough. They don’t like the fact that the government are insisting of the council allowing lots of houses to be built in Wokingham. We are hopeful that our Liberal Democrat campaign to get housing numbers down in Wokingham is now a real possibility, this has been hinted at in the national press recently.
Residents also recognise that Wokingham is the lowest funded unitary authority in the country and has been for 14 years. Wokingham Borough receives on average £30m less each year than any other unitary authority. Imagine the improvements in services we could make with an extra £30m a year.
Liberal Democrat councillors have a justified reputation for hard work and service to their local communities.
If you elect, or re-elect, a Lib Dem councillor you will find them a true champion for your area committed to making life better for all those they represent.
Cllr Clive Jones is the leader of Wokingham Borough Council and Liberal Democrat ward member for Hawkedon
