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MY PRIORITIES
A lot of politicians, councillors, and potential candidates, will be hard-working people, but, people have different views on life and the local areas. We are lucky to live in the Largest Village in the UK, and as a whole, its an absolutely fantastic, lovely place to live, but, to keep it nice, happy and positive, takes hard work, commitment and dedication from both Residents, Business Owners, Parish, and Ward Councillors, and our District Councillors and Local MP.
STOP BOATS, AND REDUCE BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
There are always strongly debated comments on the issues surrounding Migration, emigration, and Immigration, whereby people move to or from one country to another, and although Legal Migration is a good thing in specialist circumstances for the workforce or whereby students want to study in the UK, along with famillies moving here from abroad.
Our government has simply lost control of our borders, to allow and in some cases encourage both legal and illegal imigration, to which our country and finances simply cannot cope with.
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HELP PROTECT AND PROMOTE OUR HERITAGE, AND SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND FORCES
A lot of our freedom today was won by a generation of humble and loyal men and women whom stood up and wanted to protect their families and friends. But who took pride in serving their country, we must continue to educate younger generations, and keep our fallen heroes memories and sacrifices alive. We must also help support and protect our heritage including museums, aircraft, vehicles etc that served us so well during wars and conflicts. Wether past or present Veterans deserve better, and we must support them, and there famillies.
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PROTECT OUR WOODLANDS PARKS, AND OPEN SPACES AND ENCOURAGE MORE
Unfortunately, when it comes to New Builds and Developments, the owners of the land often sell for the highest price, and developers, capture the profits, and although the intentions are to build a new home, sometimes this does not go down well. Building laws need changing, and no new builds should be granted until a long-term plan is implemented.
The protection of Woodland, Green spaces, green wedges, and parkland, has to be kept, along with Village and Town boundaries, we simply cannot keep building and extending current villages and towns, creating cities, which no one wants.
BUILD BETTER, MAKE USE OF BROWNFIELD AND EXISTING SITES, WITH GREEN IN MIND
With a growing population, no one wants to lose our farmland or green spaces, but new houses are not the answer, plus properties, currently being built are simply unaffordable for most, people within the area, we need to build better, creating new types of homes, for the future, and builds that incorporate more landscaping, taking up less land. Building a mixed-use 3x floor apartment building, with both 1x and 2x bedroomed properties, with ample parking, is a better answer to 4x houses on the same land. We also need to build on more brownfield sites, and if necessary rebuild older homes better. New Buildings should all, have Solar Panels, Battery Packs, and Grey/Black water tank systems, with adequate water capture, for re-use.
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BETTER PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM OLD, DAMP AND DECAYING PROPERTIES
Many older UK, homes, which were built many years ago, without up-to-date planning and building regulations, now suffer the decaying consequences of where we live, by the sea/ocean, so, many suffer from poor ventilation, and dampness, which results in mould.
I have previous experience with this firsthand and know full well, it is not nice, is detrimental to health, and is not easy to treat or get rid of. More can be done!.
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HELP MORE PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES, OR HELP WITH OTHER SUITABLE ONES
Once people rent, own property, or simply live with someone who does, it can be very expensive when it comes to having to move. People want a nice home, in a safe community, whereby they can put down routes, and build their lives. But with many spending years to build a nice home, why, should they have to move? Especially with the current housing issues and costs involved.
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KEEP OUR BANKS/POST OFFICES ACCESSIBLE, FOR RESIDENTS, AND KEEP USING CASH
Many elderly and people to whom are not tech savy, relly heavilly on physical banks and post offices. But also for some these are also community facilities which enable people to get out of their home, maybe once or twice a week to mix and meet others in their community. Having a walk in branch is a lifeline to many and we must support and try to gacilitate the branches where possible.
Having a local bank/Post Office, with accessible services including a cash machine, whereby people can deposit and withdraw cash, is vital to our community, and especially to more mature residents and residents with a disability, or to who are not used to technology.
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HELPING WITH TECHNOLOGY, FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE AND GIVING THEM ACCESS
Many residents in Birchington, don't like, don't use, don't trust, or simply don't have access, to or know how to use technology. Not everyone is able to get online, or use online services, including texting, or using apps. But, with an elderly population, and a lot of residents not using technology, this will become harder in the future. So helping with technology, for those who struggle is important. Having the benefits shown, like video calling relatives, or being able to just keep in touch.
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SHOP LOCAL, AND USE LOCAL AMENITIES
For the village to survive, as a thriving community, we have to continue to look after our neighbors, and local businesses, so by shopping locally we keep our community a special place to live and work. Birchington is unlike many places, as it's a real community, let's keep the village alive, and stay local.
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PARKING DISCOUNTS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND OCCASIONS
Residents and workers, who live and work in our villages and towns, should be able to park without fear, of getting ticketed when special events and occasions are happening, I'd like to work, with discounted parking schemes in place locally, during times of the year, for special occasions, and some events.
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PROMOTE, LOCAL MUSEUMS, ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND EVENT SPACES
We are lucky in Thanet which has many facilities, venues, clubs, pubs, restaurants, and activities for all the family to enjoy, but also, having large event spaces and a museum is important to the community. This help brings in tourism and people to enjoy and help boost our local economy.
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SUPPORT NHS, DOCTORS, AND KEEP LOCAL SERVICES INCLUDING PHARMACIES
We all understand the pressures our NHS, Doctors, and Dentists are under, with the lack of funding, and staff, to keep our vital services. As Birchington residents, we have to work together to help support our local doctors, pharmacies, and media staff as well as community support staff, including our community nurses and care workers. But as a community, we can also help more with our elderly neighbors and residents who need help.
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COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION
Building on community, we need to all be more proactive in keeping our community safe and help to reduce crime in the area, working with local residents and setting up neighborhood watch schemes, in partnership with our Local community police officers and crime prevention units.
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EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES, TO HELP WITH EDUCATION
Working with local schools, and people who have specific expertise, we can create and develop community programs to help with education in all kinds of areas.
Working with organisations, clubs, and educational services, we can build on.
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COST OF LIVING, UTILITIES, BILLS, EXCESSIVE COSTS, FUEL CHARGES
Never before have we seen the cost of living to be so bad, with VAT, Sugar Tax, Fuel Tax, every kind of tax, and huge company profits across the board, its residents, and locals, suffering the cost of living. But there are some things we can do, to limit this, simply by helping each other and working out our finances.
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EMPLOYMENT, ACCESS TO WORK, BENEFITS
With a thriving community comes good long-term jobs, and access to work is easier, but also, more can be done, like hiring local workers who live in the community, and utilising skills from across the wider area of Thanet. We also need to support those who cannot work, supply information about benefits, grants, etc, but also, help people mix working part-time, and gaining financial help.
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HELP TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS. AND DO, MORE PREVENTION
Losing your home, or having to leave a home environment, to live on the streets, is not easy, can be dangerous, and detrimental to health and well-being. No one should be made to feel they have no other choices, so, more help is needed to tackle homelessness and we need to do more on prevention.
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HOLD ACCOUNT, FOR RAW SEWAGE DUMPING IN OUR OCEANS
Waste, pre-dated sewers, and infrastructure are mainly the causes of sewage waste, but, with more people, more homes, and naturally more build-up, with limited or no updates to infrastructure, raw sewage leaking into our oceans is becoming more the norm.
Pressure must be applied, by residents, councillors, MP's to local Water companies, and the government to act, and implement measures to reduce waste water, and raw sewage dumping.
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YOUTH CLUBS, AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES, DEVELOP AND PROMOTE
Losing your home, or having to leave a home environment, to live on the streets, is not easy, can be dangerous, and detrimental to health and well-being. No one should be made to feel they have no other choices, so, more help is needed to tackle homelessness and we need to do more on prevention.
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DISABILITY AWARENESS, AND ACCESS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Whether someone looks disabled or not, not all disabilities are visible, and unless we have more awareness, this will continue to be a taboo subject, as someone who has a disability myself, I more than most, know, we still are not made aware of disabilities and how they affect people or people around them. Access for people with disabilities is still not fully considered, and with a lack of full awareness, we need to make the effort to understand more. Regardless of anyone's disabilities, or things, they struggle with, everyone has the right to access shops, transport, and services.
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SUPPORT TRAVEL AND FREIGHT, INCLUDING THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF MANSTON
For those of us not so old, we tend to forget, Manston Airport, was a former Battle of Britain Airfield, which helped win the war, as well as also the original home to Kent Air Sea Rescue, former gliding school to the Air Cadets, and Flying school for fixed wing, and now current home to Polar Helicopters, this is all separate to aviation passenger and freight flights, the land is huge, and regardless of flightpath, the airport has been there longer than anyone.
The area is also home to RAF Manston and Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museums, and with a serious interest, it is paramount that we keep this real estate for aviation, and not, for housing developments.
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CONNECT MORE PEOPLE TO EVENTS, AND OCCASIONS, WHO CANNOT ATTEND
Not everyone can enjoy, local events, especially, occasions, such as Remembrance day parade, I am hoping to attempt to at least try and get more people involved, to whom may not be able to attend.
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RE-THINK HOW WE, BUILD AND MAINTAIN ROADS, MORE COMBINED INVOLVEMENT
As a country, we do, what's always been done, and when it comes to roads, we have not really, moved forward, just groundhog day, repeat each year, like a broken record. Potholes are caused by bad weather, seeping in and water turning to ice, melting, from the sun/heat, forming holes, BUT, it's every year, so why do the authorities, not consider new products, or a mixture of new products, plus, why so many roadworks, with utilities, digging up the roads, because we place everything under the roads, doesn't make sense.
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A NATION OF RESPONSIBLE DOG LOVERS, BUT NO BINS FOR DOO DOO
For many families, especially those individuals, living alone, a family pet, ie dog, is incredibly important as a companion, and friend, but, with dogs comes, huge responsibility, especially when walking them, but although many dog owners are responsible, for taking bags, scoops, and picking up the mess, unfortunately, for some strange reason, dog/mess bins are being removed, so, many are struggling to cope, whilst enjoying their mutual walk, having to carry, for miles. If local authorities want better relationships with responsible pet owners, surely, its only for the good, for the local authority to also be responsible.
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ULEZ ZONES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR SMALL VILLAGES AND TOWNS HERE IN KENT
I am all for cleaning and being more sustainable for the environment, but, Here in Kent is NOT suitable for the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) charges, simply because our Island, is surrounded by water, and our emissions are low anyways, I strongly believe we need to firstly implement Solar Panels, Grey Water Tanks, and both Wind and Tidal power before our Council or Government starts to TAX us even more!. Taxing vehicle drivers, will not solve the long-term problem, and will simply be another tax forced upon people, who are already struggling with Cost of Living, and high charges.
FREE ELECTRICITY GENERATION USING OUR WATER PIPES AND SEWAGE PIPES
WATER TURBINES
For years now the UK has implemented some upgrades and changes, but to cope with the overgrown population and rising strains on powering our homes, with modern technology, we have to adapt and overcome the issue and balance of Clean Power, environmentally friendly power.
Some countries around the world already have both their clean drinking water pipes, and waste water pipes generating electricity to their power grids/networds using mainly existing pipes, but just changing a small section to include the Water Turbine. Moneis generated half electricity bills, help power our homes and businesses whilst having left over money to upgrade and keep our networks of pipes, turbines and water and waste treatment facilities going.
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RE-OPENING OF THE PORT OF RAMSGATE FOR FERRIES TO RETURN
Ramsgate has both an inner and outer Royal Harbour, which berths many yachts and small boats, but Ramsgate also has the ability with investment to bring back the ferries, whether transport or passenger to and from France. For those who remember the Salliy Line Roll on Roll off Ferries including Sally Star (pictured) and Sally Sky, a day trip return was always a good out.
Having the port/ferry terminals re-opened would benifit Thanet with jobs, but also alleviate pressures at other ports.
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"I may not be able to solve all our problems, but, will do my very best, with the help of residents, businesses, fellow councillors, and the community as a whole"
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