There are five candidates standing in the Bitterne Park ward local elections on Thursday, May 5, 2016. We gave each the same chance to put information in front of electors. So here’s what they had to say…
If you live in St Denys, click here to see candidate statements for your ward, which is Portswood.

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What are the local elections for?

Elections are held in May to choose councillors for each Southampton ward. Those elected as councillors take up seats in the council chamber and make decisions on local issues. Wards, which cover fairly large areas, have three councillors, and this time in Bitterne Park Cllr Ivan White's (Conservative) term of office is at an end, so his seat is being contested.

Southampton City Council is currently Labour controlled, although it's a pretty close thing: see our previous piece here on the political makeup of the council.

How did Bitterne Park vote at the last local election?

 
Data: Wikipedia / Southampton City Council

In 2015 David Fuller held the contested Bitterne Park seat for the Conservatives, beating the Labour candidate Andrew Godsell by 689 votes. There was a 65% turnout, an electorate of 10,888 and 7,105 ballot papers issued.

Who's standing this time – and what do they stand for?

There are five candidates standing for one Bitterne Park council seat this time. We offered each the same chance to put information in front of electors, by contributing up to 400 words, a picture, a contact email address and a link to more information. We didn't ask them specfic questions.

So here's what we received, unedited and in alphabetical order. (There are also Crime Commissioner elections held on the same day as council elections, for one commissioner for each police area – in our case, Hampshire. There's more information about the role of police and crime commissioners here.)

When you've finished reading, please take our short survey and tell us what you think about this process by clicking here - there's another link at the end.

BARNES Jenny, Green Party

I attended university in Southampton, and made Bitterne Park my home 7 years ago. I work for the NHS. My husband owns the Butcher’s Hook pub, so we are very much part of the community. I love Southampton and would like to make it an even better place to live.

Southampton has some of the worst air quality in Europe, so I would promote sustainable forms of transport. Making it more pleasant to walk or cycle would improve people’s health, and having fewer cars on the roads would make them safer. We also have some of the lowest recycling rates in the country, something I would like to see change.

I would support the development of local independent businesses, as these keep money circulating in the local economy, therefore making the city more prosperous. Although we have two universities, we experience a ‘brain drain’ of intelligent and creative people. Making our city more vibrant could be one way to retain talented people within the city. I don’t think large-scale projects are always the best way to do this; sometimes we might do better by using existing empty buildings in imaginative ways.

I would also support adoption of the Living Wage (which is higher than the ‘National Living Wage’ introduced by the Government), for example by ensuring council contractors are adequately paid.

 We have recently seen council funding cuts on a huge scale, whilst facing additional pressures, such as an ageing population. We could be a lot more creative about how we deal with cuts in funding. We also need to make sure we apply for funding when this becomes available – something that at present doesn’t always happen.

I would like to increase the level of democracy we have within the city. Existing consultations often offer limited options. I’d aim for more consultation, at an earlier stage.

Within Bitterne Park we have a very strong community. I would like to bring people together further, having local markets and by supporting local artists, as well as maintaining support for existing services such as libraries. I would like to make the roads safer by prioritising people over cars – for example by having car-free days in the Triangle.

Voting Green sends a message that you care about our environment and about supporting the wellbeing of everyone, not just a few.

 

BOULTON Linda, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

I am 65 yrs old & retired but work part-time. I am standing in the Bitterne Park Ward for TUSC. I was born in Southampton & have lived here all my life. I am currently living in a council flat in Townhill Park. After school I worked in various jobs, shops, offices & factories. I then worked for many years as a psychiatric social worker & at the drugs advisory service. My last social work post was with the older persons team at Moorgreen. I always joined the trades union appropriate for my job including TGWU, USDAW & NALGO - now Unison. I believe in the unions & deplore the attacks that have been made on them over the years. They are the only insurance working people have against employers.

I joined the Labour party in 1978. In 1984 I was elected to Southampton City council I & served the full 4 year term. I left to go to Southampton university. As the majority party we over saw & instituted many projects to the improvement of the city.  Unfortunately, it stopped being the party I joined & I left in the mid 1990's. This is obvious with the cuts in jobs & services this Labour group is making now. No Labour councillor should be voting for cuts! Voters want a Labour council to maintain the services we fought for not for them to do the Tories jobs for them.

I believe in fairness & believe a person has a right to a place to live & a job of work to do. That's what our politicians should be doing for us not closing libraries, childrens sure start centres & walk in clinics.

Having retired from full-time employment, I have been taking life more easy. I try to spend time with my family & with my friends & little dog. I'm currently doing some work at the cruise terminals in Southampton. I wouldn't like to stop work completely so it suits me.

Like a lot of retirees, I like to watch the telly & I enjoy cooking. I keep up to date with current affairs & try to keep my mind active if not my body! I like my laptop & love that it is a means to get information & to contact the world. I also want to do an online course which is a fantastic opportunity these days.

 

FENERTY Stephen Joseph, Labour Party

Moving to Bitterne Park in 1999, we’ve raised our family here. For many years, Vicky and I volunteered in the local schools: in class, on trips, with the PTA and as a governor. I also ran the junior school debating society, taking pupils to Parliament every year. So community, citizenship and taking responsibility are very important to me. I also believe in social justice and grassroots activity: helping people to work for change from the street level up.

Your vote matters

This election’s outcome will have serious implications for our local communities, education, housing, roads, transport - and for the elderly and vulnerable who need our help. In tough times, Southampton’s Labour council has behaved in a responsible way: making difficult choices, yes, but balancing the budget and treating people fairly. In 2012, voters turned away from a chaotic Tory administration with “the worst employee relations in local government” and millions of bin-bags rotting in Southampton’s streets. But this isn’t a negative story - far from it. The Labour council can point to many decisive achievements: reducing inequality, helping communities flourish, creating a place where businesses want to invest – all against a backdrop of huge austerity cuts from a Conservative government. There’s much more to be done, but this is real progress.

Working for our city

 New development sites mean jobs. And the council is helping people secure those jobs, including 6,600 new apprenticeships. Under Labour, the budget for never-ending highway repairs – those blasted potholes – has actually increased. Innovations like the new licensing scheme for Houses of Multiple Occupation (opposed by the Tories) and Late Night Levy protect and actively improve our communities. With 8,000 UK libraries closing since 2010, this council pledged to keep every library open and has done so – including our own Cobbett Road Library - through community involvement and new arrangements to ensure a sustainable future. Perhaps Labour’s biggest achievement, in a city with 25% child poverty, is ensuring all Sure Start children's centres remain open; Tory Hampshire is consulting on closing theirs.

Sometimes, on the east of the city, we can feel a little neglected in terms of facilities and investment. If elected, I would fight to make sure Bitterne Park was noticed and heard: to help us develop an even stronger community with the access, services and resources local people need.

Web - http://www.southampton-labour.org.uk
Email – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

READ James Arnold, Liberal Democrat

ABOUT JAMES READ:

I live in Bitterne Park ward, in St Catherines Road. I have been working hard for local residents in Bitterne Park in recent years, and am keen to do so as part of a Liberal Democrat group on Southampton City Council, which will enable me to help a greater number of residents and to make more of a difference to the neighbourhood in which we all live.

I have campaigned to improve roads and pavement repairs, against fracking in Southampton, to save the cheque book, for better play areas, against fluoride, against Post Office closures, for better public toilets, and against charging disabled drivers on the Itchen Bridge.

I am especially interested in the environment, the economy, housing, and, as a former auxiliary nurse, the health service. I am the current Chair of Southampton Liberal Democrats.

Nationally, I am proud of what the Liberal Democrats achieved in coalition government. Now that the conservatives have an outright majority, I believe the whole country is starting to see what the Liberal Democrats fought tirelessly to prevent while in coalition.

PROMOTING BITTERNE PARK - MY CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES:

I am campaigning for:

• Attractive neighbourhoods - re-introducing a dedicated team to fight crime and anti-social behaviour, and tackling litter, graffiti, dog fouling, fly-tipping etc.
• ‘Greening’ our city: providing more and better cycleways and bus services & cutting congestion; boosting recycling and alternative energy
• Fighting to cut bureaucracy, concentrating on protecting key services, vulnerable people and jobs while keeping Council Tax low.

MY PLEDGES:

If elected I will: listen, keep in touch all year round (not just at election times), promise only what I can be confident of delivering, and put Bitterne Park first.

I hope you will feel able to give me your vote in this year’s Council Elections.

Please feel free to contact me on the email address below with any questions.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: http://www.southampton-libdems.org.uk/en/page/bitterne-park-ward

 

WHITE Ivan William, The Conservative Party Candidate

The local elections for Southampton City Council will be on 5th May and I'm asking the residents of Bitterne Park for your support.

I have worked hard in The Ward for many years, fighting for traffic lights at the Mill, better sports and play facilities at the primary school and better health facilities on the East of the City ( I strongly oppossed the closure of the Bitterne WIC and still fight for health resources this side of the City)

Local Elections For Ward Councillors For Southampton City Council

The main issue that will concern you is how you chose your local councillor and what this will mean to you in your local community. The conservatives have put together 5 promises to improve the lives of local residents.

• More Jobs & Investment - building a city that attracts talent, attracting business to ensure the opppotunity of good job for everyone.

• Restoring Pride in our City - Southampton should be a place we are proud to call home – clean streets, safe parks and a culturally rich and intersting city.

• Getting Southampton Moving – ensuring our transport network is fit for our city- including roads, cycle routes, footpaths and public transport.

We will scrap city centre evening parking charges.

• A Caring City - where we look after the vulnerable, young and old and provide a good education for children.

• More Quality Housing for our City – so everyone has the chance to have their own home.

 

Labour have let you down

Labour has reneged on just about all of their commitments to you. They said they would freeze council tax and keep pensioner discount. They said they would protect bus routes, invest more in libraries and Sure Start centres and build one affordable houses every day they were in office.

They have broken all those promises.

Libraries have been cut and money taken from sure starts. Bus routes have been slashed and no new housing has been delivered (Currently a net loss of over 400 council homes)

Europe

I know that a significant number are concerned about Europe and have strong opinions.

The Conservatives are giving you the final say with an - in out - Referendum on June 23rd

Labour and the Liberal Democrats wouldn’t have given you this opportunity and UKIP simply couldn’t deliver one.

Ivan White

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Don't forget, if you live in St Denys watch our sister site portswood.info for similar candidate statements coming soon for your ward, which is Portswood.

There are also police and crime commissioner elections on the same day,"to ensure the policing needs of communities are met as effectively as possible and to oversee how crime is tackled in your police force area". You can see who your Hampshire candidates are on this webpage

How effective do you think inviting candidates to have a say in this way is? How else could we do it? Candidates: what do you think? Please take our really short survey and tell us what you think about this process by clicking here. Thank you!