It’s been a fun few days on the doorstep, speaking to Shire Ward residents about the issues that matter to them going into this by-election.
So far, a lot of Shire Ward residents are concerned about the lack of NHS services available to them in Saffron Walden, especially in terms of appointments available at the local surgeries and the waiting times when trying to make an appointment, and the necessity to go to A&E when there are no appointments available, adding more pressure on an already overstretch service at Addenbrookes. In terms of getting an NHS dentist, residents have had to spend a small fortune on private appointments due to the lack of NHS appointments available in Saffron Walden. Linked to that concern is that many residents can see the large amount of development we have seen in Saffron Walden, and the surrounding area, but this has come without the necessary healthcare provision to meet the needs of the local population. Therefore, it’s an issue the Town Council should be looking at tackling, and opening up lines of communication with the NHS and local healthcare providers to try and come up with a workable solution to this issue.
On the issue of development, people were rightly concerned about the sheer amount of development we have seen in town, and have noticed the strain it has put on local roads, schools, and other services, with very little amenities being built to help manage with the increased population. Shire Ward residents do not feel that either Council has been strong enough with developers and that Saffron Walden has lost out as a result.
Another concern is the rising amount of litter around the Town, with many residents feeling the town now looks rundown and not as well looked after as it had done in years previous. Residents have resorted in most cases to litter picking themselves, but would like to see the Town Council (and other local authorities) be far more proactive on the issue, and provide more litter bins in Shire Ward to help combat this. In terms of other anti-social behaviour issues, there were some concerns raised about lower-level drug crime, vandalism, and petty crime throughout the area, and people would like to see a stronger police presence, especially around the Leisure Centre, Cromwell Road, and the Golden Acre to help combat the growing problem. This is something the Town Council could raise with the Police.
It is also quite clear that our road surfaces are not up to the expected standard and more needs to be done on reporting potholes. If elected, I intend to open up a direct line of communication with Essex Highways, and walk the areas roads and paths to photograph and report these issues directly to them. Highways will need to be strongly lobbied to carry out these repairs on and ongoing basis in Saffron Walden.
I will be continuing my communication on the doorstep with Shire Ward residents this week and look forward to hearing everyone’s views. If you wish to contact me about any issue, please drop me a line here:
