As Lichfield and Burntwood voters prepare to go to the ballot box for the local elections on May 5, The Lichfield Blog has offered each of the candidates the chance to have their say.
We’ve sent out questionnaires to all District Council candidates and will publish their responses on the site to help you decide where to put your cross on election day. If your local candidates haven’t responded yet, why not chase them?
Name: Vance Wasdell
Party: Independent
Ward: Hammerwich
Occupation: Retired
What has made you decide to stand for election?
While I have been on Hammerwich Parish Council, a number of residents have expressed support for me if I stood for Lichfield District Council.
What are the key issues for you in your ward?
Green belt development, a fear of cuts in public services, poor public transport, keeping footpaths open, local flooding incidents and fly-tipping.
If you are elected how do you plan to keep your constituents informed of what you are doing to represent them?
Through the press and I speak to many of my constituents regularly.
How do you feel you will be able to make a difference to your constituents?
Listen to them and do my best to address their concerns.
Anything else you would like to add?
A decade ago this Parish lost a vast swathe of its Green Belt to provide the M6 Toll road. Since then there have been other proposals in the Green Belt that threatened to merge us with surrounding conurbations and lose the identity of Hammerwich. Some of these proposals have been successful, despite causing concern to those immediately affected. I will do all I can to protect any further erosion of the Green Belt. The only development I will support is the re-instatement of the Lichfield canal which provide quiet access to the countryside without spoiling it.
Over the past 45 years we have seen a gradual decline in public services. This area has lost its railyway station, two hospitals and an elderly people’s care home. Shortly after last year’s General Election you will recall there was a proposal to close Burntwood Recycling Centre – this followed a threat to our Post Office. Both of these threats were only withdrawn after a public outcry. Despite the financial constraints facing the Council, I will oppose any further reductions in public services.
With the price of fuel ever increasing, it would make more sense to improve public transport, particularly to the West Midlands. This would be best addressed by re-opening the Walsall to Lichfield railway line and providing a good, new, secure park and ride station. We would gain direct services to Lichfield, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Supporters of Walsall and Aston Villa football clubs would also benefit with a service to stations close to the grounds of these clubs. I will support any effort to re-open this route and improve bus services.
Also standing in the Hammerwich ward (once they have responded, these will link to the response):
- Roderick Campbell (Labour)
- Val Richards (Conservative)
- Jeffrey Sheriff (UKIP)
- Brett Wilson (Conservative)
