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