It was Aristotle who said that the true forms of government are those in which ‘.....the many govern with a view to the common interest’.
I don’t believe the common interests of people in Summertown and Walton Manor are currently being served, and I intend to do something about it.
Oxfordshire County Council has been under no overall control for over a decade. Currently overseen by a Liberal Democrat/Green coalition of inaction, recent policies have continuously fallen short of our expectations and have in many cases made things worse.
County Council policies are not, in my opinion, serving the common interests of Summertown and Walton Manor residents.
I am running as an Independent to serve the best interests of the people of Summertown and Walton Manor in the County Council elections on May 1st.
As a resident, I am concerned about this division’s future should the Council continue on its current path.
Friends, family and locals including hardworking business owners I have spoken with believe the Council’s policies are at odds with reality. I believe that a truly independent voice is needed to drive forward positive change and to enhance overall efficiency.
Independence is an empowering thing. For local elections like in May, it means candidates like myself can run solely under a common sense community ticket by and for the community, not one devised in ideology in Westminster, for Westminster.
Many of us will have by now heard that our council tax will rise by a staggering 5% following the delivery of the County Council’s 2025/2026 budget. While our elected officials claim this will result in better public services, I am not convinced. More likely it just puts more into the Council's trough to be squandered on pet, political and evangelical projects.
We have seen time and time again the County (and City) Councils’ lacklustre management of public funds. £51m Eynsham Park and Ride anyone?
Just think of how improved Council efficiency and effective planning with such a vast budget (net of £646m for ‘25/’26) could help support our residents and businesses.
For me, Oxfordshire County Council’s fingers are never on the community’s pulse, yet they are always in the pockets of taxpayers. Policies are strangling businesses, clogging the arteries of our community and ultimately slowing growth and access to essential services.
Take an example highlighted this week of Stuart Silvester, the owner of a hardware shop on Magdalen Street who is being forced to demolish his store owing to the installation of a new low traffic zone (LTN). This store has been part of his family for 112 years.
I can look also to Clinton Pugh who has been forced to part ways with his restaurant on Cowley Road after more than 30 years due to another LTN initiative.
There are countless other examples I could highlight here which have come across in conversations on several occasions. Council policies are at odds with reality.
For me it is clear that the Council will maintain such a destructive approach without an influx of Independent candidates able to serve the interests of their constituents, not party whip.
After all, isn’t this the hallmark of any effective democracy?
