About Chris
This election isn’t about sewage, its about schools, social care and our broken road system. The Greens, Reform and Tories will all make vague pledges to win your vote in May but I’m the only candidate with a detailed plan and the experience to deliver on it.
My plan
Chris would:
- Make partnerships pay: It should make financial and common sense for utility companies to close a road and do more than one job
- Increase fines for companies who run over time. Using the money to pay for more staff to check diversions are rightly in place
- Allow residents to sign up to closure alerts and link KCC Map of closures to your sat nav.
- Break up the monopoly. Rather than give one firm a contract for all the KCC work in Kent. Chris would allow smaller firms to compete, keeping costs down and service higher
A Labour KCC would:
- Create a county wide play service for 5-11 year olds with free activities for families in school, local parks and community halls
- Move detached youth workers into local schools and reopen the youth club. We can support young people before problems escalate
- End inflation-busting rises in school bus tickets
- Invest in training more educational psychologists
- Fight for a new SEND school in our town
As your County Councillor I would:
- return the Seasalter Community Warden
- Reverse planned cuts to Age UK
- Trial an in house adult homecase service to reduce expensive spot purchasing and drive up standards. Local teams would travel less and care more.
- Reverse cuts to council tax subsidies
- Cancel the one of charge made to families negotiating social care
My experience
Labour achievements
Since 2020, Labour in Whitstable has:
doubled play park spending - investing in Cornwallis Circle Westmeads, Trilby and Prospect Park. We've opened new tennis courts at West Beach
Committed over £50m to new council housing and a further £30m to make existing homes more energy efficient
Protected independent housing advice. Doubled our welfare rights support and grants to local charities
Returned the bus to Estuary View and proposed a Park and Ride on the Thanet Way
Returned bins, it and tax services to the council ownership to reduce costs and improve accountability
Council taxes have gone up by £31 in the last five years.
Tory achievements
Since 2020, the Conservatives in Whitstable have:
closed the children's centres at Joy Lane and Swalecliffe. Ended open access to the youth club
Ended all funding for Porchlight and stopped housing care leavers over 19
Cut funding for benefit advice at AGE UK. Pulled the Seasalter Community Warden
Caused traffic chaos by mismanaging road closures
Committed £2bn of our taxes to a single tarmac firm
Council taxes have gone up by £340 in the last five years thanks to the Tory run County Council.
Green Party achievements
Since 2020, the Green Party in Whitstable have:
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My backers
“Chris fought alongside us to try and save the Children’s Centres. He listened to families like mine and cared when Kent County Council didn’t”
Sarah Simmonds
Children's Centre Campaigner“Road closures are wrecking high street businesses. Chris understands local traders and delivers on his promises to them. We need him fighting our corner.”
Roland Birks
Landlord“Chris volunteers with the NHS and understands just how important it is. When we run community events from Estuary View, he’s ace.”
Berni Mallinson
Health Campaigner“Kent council’s budget savings are squeezing colleges like mine. Chris has spent time in our classroom and understands what our young people need. That’s why he has my support.”
Brent Lewis
FAR Skate Academy“It was Labour councillors who helped get us going and funded our work. Chris is at the heart of our community - consistently making a difference and getting things done. Chris has my vote”
Lynn Brown
Friends of Columbia Park“It’s easy to slag of politicians but hard to find one who answers questions directly. I read Chris’s weekly social media posts and respect how he keeps us in the loop”
Garry Tremain
Whitstable Cricket Club“Road closures have cost mine and other businesses dearly this year. As a city councillor it’s not Chris’s job to help, but help he does. That’s why he’s got my vote”
Lucy Eason
Shopkeeper“It’s about the best person for the job, not the colour of the rosette. Chris is a natural leader, a strong local voice who always turns up when we need him”
Hywel Morgan
Bortal Hill Resident“Politics at the moment is crazy but amongst all the noise Chris gives me hope. He cares about public service, works hard and has my vote”
