Opinion: ‘Vote Conservative for Positive Change in Guildford

Published on: 19 Apr, 2023
Updated on: 20 Apr, 2023

Over this week, The Dragon will be publishing an opinion piece from each of the parties running in the GBC elections on May 4. As always, our intention is to give our readers the best opportunity to hear the views and the ideas from the candidates and the parties.

Adam Heilbron, Conservative candidate for Burpham ward, writes:

This election is one of the most hotly contested in Guildford’s history. Conservatives are working hard across the town and villages to spread our positive message and plan for Guildford, and to earn your vote on 4th May.

Conservatives recognise that for many households in Guildford, the impact of rising costs has brought challenges in recent months. Nationally, Rishi Sunak is working hard to halve inflation and ease price rises, but there is work we can do to support residents locally.

Conservative candidates for the GBC election on May 4 with Angela Richardson MP.

Council tax represents one of the highest costs facing local people and has risen year-on-year under the Lib Dem-R4GV administration. Through sound financial management and cutting wasteful spending on consultants, a new Conservative council will deliver the lowest council tax in Surrey.

Adam Heilbron, Conservative candidate for Burpham ward.

Conservatives will protect our town centre. At The Guildford Dragon hustings, we saw a mark of consensus between parties on the issue of height policy in the town centre. A new Conservative administration would work cross-party and with the community to deliver the zonal height policy that everyone agreed on at the hustings.

We will also review the Town Centre Masterplan to ensure that the regeneration proposed enhances Guildford’s offer, is in keeping with our historic character and provides the affordable housing that local families are looking for following four years of negligible new housing of this type.

Supporting the businesses in our town centre is just as important as protecting our town centre environment. Conservatives will deliver simplified parking charges, ending the 3hr, 6hr, 12hr system that currently drives business to our competitors, and we will not implement any road pricing in Guildford, which would sound a death knell for Guildford’s business.

We will also restore popular town centre events, such as the Christmas lights switch-on, which have been cherished by local families and visitors alike over the years.

Conservative candidates for the GBC elections on May 4 out canvassing with Greg Hands, Conservative Party chairman.

Time and time again, we hear from residents who have sat listening to the sound of a dialling tone waiting for Guildford Borough Council to pick up, been waiting for weeks for news on their planning application or being forced to contact their MP in order to get action from the Council. A new Conservative Council will ensure that your council works for you.

Through restoring the out-of-hours emergency line to a rigorous programme for improvement in customer services and planning, your Conservative team will restore value to your council tax and get Guildford working again.

The environment is an issue close to many people’s hearts in Guildford and Conservatives recognise the challenge that we collectively face ahead. A new Conservative council would deliver a clear pathway to net zero at GBC and publish data on the council’s performance, ensuring accountability and transparency to residents.

We will also work to support the air quality improvements that are needed in Guildford, and support our MP, Angela Richardson, in her efforts to combat air quality problems coming from the A3. Finally, we will protect the local environment, both through enhanced street cleaning and through lobbying for AONB expansion across our villages.

We are proud to be the only party running a full slate across Guildford at this election. Our candidates come from all backgrounds, professions, ages and experience. We have former councillors wishing to use their specialisms to support our town, business owners looking to bring their experience and acumen to Guildford Borough Council and young people wanting to make a difference in their communities.

By voting Conservative, you can elect a strong team at Guildford Borough Council. Working with Conservative colleagues at Surrey County Council and our hardworking local MP, Angela Richardson, your Conservative team can deliver positive change in Guildford.

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