I’ve lived in Tring for two and a half years now, when I bought my first home, a small two bed terrace with my soon-to-be wife Emily. Simply put, I love it here, and I want everyone who lives here to feel the same - and that’s why I’m running for Council. Now, I may not have lived here for decades - but that’s exactly why you should put your trust in me. I won’t settle for the same old excuses about why important things aren’t being done. I won’t get bogged down in bureaucracy and naysaying. I’ll fight for Tring’s interests - and I’ll be honest about it too. I’ll be responsible and active. You’ll see me walking down your street, in the pub or on the high street. You’ll read about what I’m doing online, on the radio and maybe even in the paper if I’m lucky. And I’ll always listen, and I’ll always be looking for new ideas and new ways to make our town better.
I’m willing to take on any campaign if it makes Tring a better place to live, but there are a number of vital issues I’m passionate about, and I’ve made these my three big priorities:
The first is A Better Local Plan. You’ve all heard by now about the Dacorum Local Plan, and the astonishing 55% increase in houses it recommends here in Tring - most of which on green belt land. My view is simple - it’s too many houses in all the wrong places. Don’t get me wrong, I want people to come to Tring and start families here - that’s exactly what I’ve done. I know the high street and Tring businesses will welcome the increased footfall. But we are a small market town, with small roads and stretched services. We need a better, community led plan that builds on Tring’s character - not one that diminishes it.
My second campaign is Re-energise Our Town. The pandemic has cost our town. We’ve lost some amazing businesses and I know many local people are struggling. As a Councillor, I want to use whatever levers I can to boost business and not just return our high street back to its pre-Covid bustle, but push it to the next level. I want to use Council funds and discretionary grants to stimulate business growth on and around the high street, rebuild community centres and culture, and get visitors back spending in our town. And not forgetting our pubs, restaurants and cafes – many of whom having offered amazing takeaway services – they’re the jewel in the crown of our local area, and I’ll campaign hard for positive Council incentives to help them recover and grow.
My third big priority is a Cleaner, Greener Tring. Dacorum Borough Council is working on an action plan to make sure we play our part in a national effort to reduce the UK’s contribution to climate change. That plan should be ambitious and forward-looking. I’ll lobby for it to include bold targets on issues like food waste, greener transport and initiatives like locally grown food and community gardens. And as we are expected to make changes to our lives to benefit our planet, so too should local authorities.