Vote
for Adrian Hicks
Your
INDEPENDENT Candidate
Bringing
Influence,
Experience
and
Independence
to serve the St John and All Saints ward.
Housing
and Jobs – Top Priority
The
housing situation in Winchester is becoming desperate – so bad that
the council is putting people under 50 into sheltered accommodation
designed and managed for the elderly.
There
is now a severe and rapidly growing shortage of affordable housing in
Winchester. The problem is not being addressed by Winchester City
Council or our housing associations. The number of new affordable
homes being built has fallen by two thirds yet private rents are
soaring well above the rate of inflation. There are now 4,500 people
(up 70%) on the council's waiting list for homes and some are being
forced to live in bed and breakfast accommodation.
The
option to rent from private landlords is disappearing for many as
already sky high rents are increasing by some 8% a year. House prices
are so high that most people under 40 are probably never going to be
able to afford to buy their own homes in Winchester.
Yet
the city is currently in the bizarre position of having 500 flat
being built by the university in Burma Road for its students and none
for its permanent residents.
I
intend to push hard for new affordable social housing developments,
both by the Council and by housing associations. Loans are available
from banks and the government to fund these. The Council has
substantial reserves - £36 million. It is also likely to have, on
top of this, an additional, £3 million or so a year for new housing.
Unless
something is done, there is now the frightening and very great danger
in the next few years that the only people who will be able to afford
to live permanently in Winchester are commuters working in London.
We
are now seeing sheltered accommodation being allocated to people
under 50. Where are the elderly and infirm going to live? On the
streets?
I
intend to fight to keep sheltered accommodation for those it was
intended for and really who need it.
I
will push hard for new small scale social housing developments rather
than unpopular large scale development plans like Barton Farm.
Winchester has land and space available many smaller scale
developments which suit the character of the city and its needs.
Within
the ward there are two current opportunities for new social housing,
both of which I will support - the redevelopment of the Chesil Street
car park and in Fivefields Road.
More
Jobs in Winchester
Winchester
needs more jobs for its residents and building new affordable homes
will create new jobs in the city.
It
needs much more though. I will support new business park developments
to attract employers to Winchester and create further jobs.
Winchester
needs such developments to create jobs because there is a severe
shortage of suitable property for growing and larger businesses.
With
its excellent motorway and rail connections, Winchester is an
attractive place for businesses wishing to expand or relocate to.
I
therefore welcome the planned new development at Chilcomb Park.
Why
it Matters I am Independent
If
elected, it is likely I will hold the balance of power between the
Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. With no allegiance to the
main political parties, I can push hard for the interests of my
constituents and Winchester.
After
having served for four years as a councillor for this ward I
thoroughly understand today's deep concerns and worries of its
constituents and how best to get them addressed. That is easiest done
without the burden of big party ideology and the unpopular coalition
of compromises and fudges between the Tories and Lib Dems.
Who
Holds Power in the Local Council?
It
is a hung council, with both the Tories and Lib Dems each having 27
councillors. When they can't agree the deciding votes are held by the
tiny number of other councillors – which gives them very real
influence in deciding policies that affect us all.
The
balance of power is currently held by just three councillors – two
Independents and one Labour.
If
elected, I intend to use that influence to get the two massive and
most pressing needs in Winchester – affordable homes and jobs –
at the top of the Council's priorities for the next four years.
My
Experience
I
have four years' experience as a councillor for the St John's and All
Saints ward that covers Highcliffe, St Giles Hill, Winnall and the
Soak. I have a proven track record of repeatedly helping a large
number of people there and thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of doing
so.
I
have a thorough understanding of how the Council works and what its
responsibilities are and, whilst a councillor, attended every council
and committee meeting. Those have given me invaluable skills and
experience in helping meet the needs of the public I now wish to
represent again.
I
love Winchester, having lived here since childhood, and know how the
city ticks and what issues, big and not so big, it faces.
Living
just off Chesil Street, I also know the ward exceedingly well and
very many of you that live there. Many of you I have met through my
job of 37 years standing in the Accidents and Emergency Department of
our Royal Hampshire County Hospital. If you've ever been there with a
broken bone, there is a good chance we have met.
Please
feel free to contact me
You
can keep up to date on the May local elections by visiting my blog at
http://adrianhickswinchester.blogspot.com. Please feel free to leave
questions or comments there. Or you can see my Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/AdrianHicksWinchester
and also leave comments or questions there. I'm also on Twitter at
@ahwinchester
I
am available at all times by phone on 07948 064068 and by email at
adrianhickswinchester@yahoo.co.uk
Printed
and Published by Adrian Hicks, 3 Granville Place, Winchester SO23 9NF
