Local elections, New Forest District Council: Conservative Party, Green Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats share their policies
THE A&T asked the four main political parties to put forward their policies for the Forest ahead of residents going to the polls on 4th May.
Conservative Party
YOUR local Conservatives offer a safe pair of hands to future-proof this special place we all live in.
Your Conservative-led council has provided a sound budget for the future, no gimmicks, no quick fixes.
We have the long-term vision that our residents deserve and one that you can rely on. In spite of inflationary pressures we have kept our precept increase to 2.9% while maintaining all of our front-line services
Our waste recycling rate will increase as we roll out our new Waste Strategy, and we have recently installed carton recycling banks across the district.
Housing
We continue to build more social rent accommodation, using the latest eco building standards.
Conservative-led NFDC is leading the way on greener energy and has started to roll out a programme of air source heat pumps to our houses, saving our tenants money on their heating bills.
We will continue to provide more temporary accommodation for those who find themselves homeless.
Your local Conservatives are developing more affordable and social rental accommodation, and also Shared Ownership schemes. Our proposed new builds will be more sustainably built with EV charging points in the parking area.
Environment
Your Conservative-led NFDC will continue to work with the Environment Agency and BCP Council to develop Christchurch bay and Hurst Spit to Lymington strategies, and is leading the way in improving biodiversity and developing sustainable habitats for our wildlife, green routes for walking and cycling.
In our car parks we are installing EV charging points without cost to our council tax payers.
Throughout our towns and villages we are expanding the CCTV system and upgrading cameras, giving us better and clearer images.
We are introducing two Public Space Protection Orders; banning barbecues in our Forest to reduce the risk of wild fires and another to protect the Forest ponies with a ban on feeding or petting ponies.
Health and wellbeing
Our new Health and Wellbeing strategy will help all our residents achieve healthier and more active lifestyles.
Your local Conservatives will continue to support you, our residents. Vote for us to continue our programme to make our special place safer, healthier, greener and sustainable for future generations.
Green Party
The New Forest needs new voices
Green councillors will work hard, listen, be open and honest with you and act with integrity. We will give you local government of which you can be proud and which involves you.
Green councillors are independent and not told what to do by their party. Greens will work constructively with other parties, always seeking what’s best for the people of the New Forest.
Fairer, greener homes
We will ensure homes are built to the highest eco standards and we are committed nationally to the insulation of all existing homes. We will set ambitious targets in the New Forest for affordable homes, whether to rent or buy, meeting the needs of local people. The present council built just 24 last year and are 400 short of the target they set before the last election.
Fairer, greener economic development
Greens will support sustainable local jobs that meet the needs of people, the community and the planet.
The Solent Freeport is not the right solution – freeports cost £50m a year and dislocate economic activity (according to the Office for Budget Responsibility). The Tories scrapped the idea in 2012 because it didn’t work.
Action on the climate and our local environment
Greens will create a more urgent Climate Action Plan to protect our New Forest. Our council hasn’t even set a net zero target and has the worst emissions in Hampshire. They boast that last year they planted 181 trees, but they cut down 376!
We will preserve the character of our area, promote sustainability and oppose inappropriate development.
We will work with the police, schools and interested parties to address the causes of crime.
Action to promote more recycling now
Only 33% of household waste gets re-used, recycled or composted. The best councils in England achieve double this. We will make recycling a priority and oppose any new landfill sites.
Promote safe, affordable and sustainable travel in the New Forest
We will work with the county to tackle the worsening road conditions – potholes, rat runs and speeding through villages – and to create proper cycling routes.
We will install charging points for electric vehicles in our car parks.
We will work to improve bus services so that buses run where and when they’re needed. We are committed nationally to a £1 single bus fare and free travel for everyone under 22, a massive benefit for our rural community.
Labour Party
THE New Forest Labour Party believes in putting the needs of the community first. We offer a genuine alternative to the tired and ineffective status quo. We are the only political party that seeks the views of residents, gaining a thorough understanding of their concerns. We engage with people on the doorstep and through our street stalls.
Residents tell us that housing is their primary concern. Over 1,400 local residents signed our Labour petition opposing the development of more retirement flats in Lymington. Labour councillors will work cross-party to ensure that 50% of all new homes are truly affordable, along with increased investment in social housing and a significant reduction in the council waiting list. Our aim is to help families stay together, working in the place they live in.
We will campaign for better infrastructure in major new developments to reduce the pressure on local services such as doctors’ surgeries and schools, and support cycling and walking, and better public transport.
We recognise that the cost-of-living crisis has exposed deep-seated inequalities in our community. That’s why we’re committed to investing in services for hard pressed people of all ages. The impact of the crisis continues to spread, with high street shops closing, local people losing jobs, and towns and rural communities bearing the brunt. We’re committed to strongly supporting local shops and businesses so that the New Forest remains a great place to live and visit.
Research shows that needless politically motivated budget cuts by the Conservative government since 2010 have had a seriously detrimental effect on people’s health. The evidence is clear with pressure on local services and the NHS, dangerous potholes and reduced bus services. Conservative and LibDem councillors spend a lot of their time scoring points off each other. As councillors, we will work with all parties and agencies to deliver fair and effective services for our community.
Your four Labour councillors have already made a significant impact on the lives of local residents. We’ve secured green spaces, supported housing initiatives, and improved local facilities.
As councillors, we will strive to work closely with all parties and agencies to ensure that our community receives the fair and effective services it deserves.
Your Labour candidates are local people from all walks of life, including young working parents and retired people who already contribute through voluntary work in the community; all dedicated to improving life in the Forest.
Liberal Democrats
THE New Forest Liberal Democrats are offering a fully costed alternative programme for the next four years as part of the Fairer New Forest Programme, with no impact on NFDC council tax.
We have listened carefully to people and businesses right across the district and have heard that there are huge challenges for many of our residents in the years to come. Our Fairer New Forest programme attempts to alleviate those concerns over the medium to long term.
For example, we want to support and retain our local retail outlets and will deliver one free two-hour yearly parking clock to each council tax residence with a car ownership to bring footfall back to our centres initially for one year.
We want to make it easier for people to start up a local business thereby employing others.
We are deeply concerned about the growing issue of child poverty and will focus on working with local agencies to tackle it.
To help with community cohesion, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour we would recruit a crime prevention officer working from within NFDC to advise people and businesses on protecting their property.
In Hythe, the Lib Dems brought in accredited community safety officers to tackle bad behaviour. Let’s do that elsewhere and support the under-resourced police service.
In Lyndhurst, a Lib Dem councillor set up a youth club, now a great success locally. We need youth hubs across the district. Local agencies stand ready to help.
There needs to be a plan to increase social house building to assist families on the council waiting list and in temporary accommodation or sofa surfing from week to week.
Public transport is dismal locally; there needs to be more buses and bus routes across the New Forest. Waterside railway project needs to be back. In addition, local community transport projects need assistance to get off the ground and we will address that.
There needs to be greater input to the local cycling, walking infrastructure plan to help residents achieve better health outcomes and easier access around their community.
The New Forest with its abundant green spaces should have the most environmentally aware council in the country. It doesn’t. We can and we must do better – installing NFDC car parks with solar panels to provide power for charging points and income to subsidise car parking costs, for example.
It is vital to protect our environment from over-development and ensure there is a costed plan of the benefits from the proposed freeport for all residents, as well as protecting the coastline east of Lymington along the Waterside to Totton.
It’s an exciting and achievable programme, but we need your vote to get started.
