What do I think about...

Climate Change

I think we need to treat it very seriously and urgently. When the United Nations said we have 12 years to avert disaster (TEN YEARS NOW!), I think we would be foolish to ignore them. Its a massive ask, because we need to alter virtually every aspect of our lives. It won't be easy, but the alternative is that, if we don't do simple things now, nature will force us (and our children) to act in more stringent ways. Thats why all of my decisions on council business would take enviromental concerns as the number one objective.

Housing and Planning

We can not just keep plonking more and more houses in small villages, without providing the infrastructure to serve the new and existing population - Doctors surgery, local shops, community hubs, not to mention water supply, sewerage and other services. Environmental concerns must be taken into account. In the past planners have said they will do this, but having visited all the newer estates just completed, or under construction in the Penyard Ward, I see no evidence of it at all.

I believe we need a big rethink. Everyone deserves a good home. The challenge is to provide those homes without destroying the countryside, without using up all the world's resources to build them, while equipping them for the future as a priority and yet making them at a price that normal people can afford.

All new housing, offices, factories and agricultural buildings should be designed and built to incorporate south facing roofs, made entirely of a solar photovoltaic structure.

In terms of where homes are built, I would take my lead from the various Neighbourhood Development Plans that have recently been created. Why bother asking local people, if you take no notice of their suggestions.

In future I believe that houses should not be given planning permission without these environmental and social measures as a statutory requirement.

Low cost housing should also be part of that. Building 3/4 beds that are designed to make developers pot loads of money is not in the interest of local people or the planet.

Transport

From potholes to public transport, from bikes to electric cars, we need to undertake a strategic review of how transport should be developed over the next 20 years, and we need to do it fast and smart. The world has to move away from petrol based transport, and Herefordshire must play its part. How does that affect people living in Penyard Ward?

Public Transport
In order to reduce the present levels of car use, in ways that allow people to make choices which appeal to them and help the environment, we need a return to public transport. I admit there are huge problems, but there has to be a way. Many people I’ve talked to want to see it, the health of the planet demands it. In practice we must drastically improve the existing minimal service. Perhaps with the introduction of local minibus services.

The end of petrol cars is coming, we have no choice. Let’s start to embrace the future. I realise people love their cars, I love mine. At the moment, in remote country areas there is no choice other than a car. We should be planning to develop a rural passenger transport system based on shared, ‘just in time’ electric vehicles, and in Hereford an electric light bus service.

Road repairs and potholes
I want to see existing roads repaired before we spend money on new roads. Given the future environmental pressures on transport, an informed decision on whether major new roads should be developed has to be made. Meantime new planned construction should be put on hold.

Traffic Calming
Speeding is a number one issue in all the small hamlets in my ward. In my opinion we have to introduce traffic calming methods to solve this problem. Forget asking drivers to slow down, forget fines. Traffic calming methods similar to ones you see in small villages in France, for instance, would mean drivers had no choice but go slower, or risk damage to their cars. That does not mean endless humps in the road, but chicanes, central reserves and other measures.

Electric cars (and Busses)
Electric cars are efficient, but a lack of charging points is one reason why people are not switching. There is a government fund available to help pay for more charging points but only 28 councils have applied and Herefordshire is not one.

I do realise there are problems with e-cars.
I'm researching this at the moment.

FARMING
I would meet with local farmers and take their views and needs into account when making decisions. Farmers FEED us, so it would be wise to make sure their business is sustainable and rewarding.

In general I would support, promote and encourage mixed agriculture and environmentally sustainable farming practices and help to restore soil structure and fertility. I’d want to minimise the use of harmful chemicals in pesticides and fertilisers and invest in organic composting.

I would encourage hedgerows and land for wildlife corridors.

TOURISM
Tourism is as important to Herefordshire as agriculture, and will increase as more people are encouraged to holiday in the uk. I will work towards a sustainable low impact tourism culture. This needs to be strategic in linking accommodation and attractions of all kinds in ways that minimise waste and pollution. The introduction of a cycle path network is crucial to this, as is investing in tourist attractions and tourism offices. Locally, I want to see a tourism office established back in Ross On Wye, and a major new attraction in the area, such as my suggestion for the Chase hotel, mentioned below. ‘createROSS’ of which I am a founding member, has plans to reinvent a major festival in Ross. Other festivals, like the AONB River Festival, The Green Hedgehog Festival, and various local festivals should be encouraged.

THE CHASE HOTEL

I’d like to see it become something of value to the town as a whole, rather than more housing. My top choice would be some kind of a visitor attraction. Perhaps a combination of craft centre, sculpture park, gallery, and green technology centre. Don’t know how it would be done, but it would be worth exploring before the town looses the site under a housing estate forever.

Cycling

Many roads in my area, The A40 for instance, are too dangerous for family or recreational cycling or commuting by bike. We need to work on a massive introduction of cycle paths throughout Herefordshire. If there is any new Government money available for this we need to get hold of it and start creating these cycle routes as a matter of urgency. A new approach to how and where we site cycle paths is also called for. Landowners need to come on board to make this possible. I would work with the Sustrans charity, local farmers and housing developers to achieve this. A cycle path network would also help tourism.

Walking

We all know walking is good for you. It’s good for the nations wellbeing, and it’s good for the NHS. We have to encourage it in any way we can.

Small villages like Lea need more walker friendly footpaths.

Small towns like Ross would benefit from the introduction of more pedestrianised areas. Local traders see an upturn in business and local people can become more engaged with their community.

PLASTIC
I will be supporting all local initiatives to reduce single use plastic packaging.
We all need to make much greater efforts to limit the use of plastic in packaging.
Old habits die hard, but the alternative is that the oceans die, and then we do.
It’s time for concerted campaigns aimed at businesses who do not change their ways and consumers have the perfect tools to make them do so - their buying power. Just refuse to buy stuff wrapped in plastic, or too much packaging that is destined for the tip. It’s all very well for companies to claim the packaging is recyclable, but it takes energy to make it, and energy to recycle it. Better to find sustainable ways to avoid using it in the first place.

FRACKING
I am totally against fracking

VILLAGE HALLS and THE ARTS

I went to Art College, so naturally I’m a big supporter of the Arts. Not just your high brow galleries and such, but the nitty gritty end, where we all want to be entertained, or to create stuff of our own. In small villages and towns, the village hall is vital for the provision of this, as well as all manner of clubs, societies and social groups. I will support all efforts to maintain and improve them in any way possible.

BREXIT
Everyone is sick to death of the politics
around Brexit.

Whatever happens, we will still need to sort out problems that are much closer to home. Of course farmers and business will be affected by it, in one way or another. When we know what challenges we face, we can decide what needs to be done.

All I will say, is this. Whatever the outcome, I will stay independent and I will represent you with a whole raft of urgent policies.