Standing for the County Council

I have represented Ivybridge as a District Councillor for two years and I want to bring a joined up approach to these two similar bodies – the District and County Councils.

I want to work on the challenges posed to our Town by the increased number of our residents. These include the roads (partly a County issue), the Schools (partly a County issue), and the Medical Centre. I intend to build on the Town Council’s proposals for a southern relief road.

Yet underpinning my whole reason to stand is justice and fairness. Largely, we all muddle on with never quite enough money, trying to stay healthy, complaining about politicians. Yet justice and fairness does apply at the margins – the elderly, the poor, the ill, those in challenging families or with no family.

The principal theme on my leaflets has been the potholes (and why cannot the Conservatives get the administration on this right with an underspend of about £1m a year?). But the injustice lies with County provision for the Care Homes, children’s care, mental health, and public transport.

I’m standing on local issues but of course there is an influence from the behaviour of national politicians. How do you want to be seen and be represented? Can you be generous and vote to support both yourself and others? Vote Liberal Democrat. Vote Victor.

Litter, litter everywhere

Seems like I have a new hobby and it’s keeping me on the streets. I had a very belated introduction to the work of Tim Poate (Plastic Free Ivybridge) who has been arranging litter picks along the Erme for some time. Eventually, I joined in on the September 2020 collection.

I had been following some ‘Rubbish Friends’ in East Anglia who do litter picks. It was time to do my own.

The sad thing is, how much is there. I only utilise my short walks with my wife but the amount just at the railway station would take half a dozen people a good hour. It would also need the grippy ‘litter pickers’ (available for free from South Hams District Council). Currently I just use the ‘other side’ of the plastic bag I’m using as a receptacle. It does mean I’m a little choosy about what I recover, though there’s plenty of ‘bigger’ stuff such as bottles and (twice) one trainer!

Well, I can say I’ve added bending down to my walks – must be doing me good. Also good to see others litter picking: a man and his daughter on the Lucerne Fields estate.